“Hi there, Running Wolf. Are you okay? You look exhausted,” she said as she got to him.
She tilted her head as she peered at him. He really looked very distressed. Was he eating well? Was he sleeping well? The thoughts ran through her head.
“Running Wolf? Did something happen? You are not your usual bright self. I mean, it’s not like I know you so well that I know how you always are, but you are always so bright and...” Elaina moved closer to him, oblivious to the fact that he was moving back because she was too focused on his strained expression.
She nodded as she finally made sense of the current situation, “You know what? It’s probably because you aren’t eating well enough. How about you come over later for my beef stew? I promise you that it’s amazing. And you don’t have to feel overburdened by my offer. Really, it is the least I can do after all your kindness toward me.”
She looked at him curiously, expecting his response. She was ready to argue with him if that was what he was going to do.His next words knocked the breath out of her.
“When are you leaving?”
Her smile slipped as she tried to make sense of his question. Was he talking about the house? The village? Right… she nodded subtly. For a moment there, she had deluded herself into thinking she could stay here longer. She had thought she had found a support and a friend. He had only been helpful because he saved her, and out of his humanity. He was a good man and he had already done more than enough for her. It was time she left. Frankly, she had already overstayed her welcome. That was for sure.
Still, the way he delivered the question, it seemed so unconcerned. It sounded like she had been a nuisance all this time. She had actually thought they were almost…. friends. Well, she was wrong. He would not be so cold to her if she was more than someone he saved. Alarm shot through her as she thought of those after her. How could she evade them? What on earth could she do? She sighed and steeled herself. One issue at a time.
She took a couple deep breaths and said,
“Soon. I just need to get a few things in order, figure out where we are headed to next. And we’ll be out.”
Despite the overwhelming exhaustion she was feeling, she met his gaze, refusing to back down.
“Good. I want you out of here as soon as possible,” he added immediately.
I didn’t realize we were so much of a burden, the thought flashed through her mind and she bit her lip as she held back tears.Be strong, Elaina. You cannot afford to go weak before him. She nodded in agreement and before he could say more, she turned and hurried off. She could not let him see her tears.
Elaina slipped into the shed where her daughter was sleeping. She wrapped her arms around her legs and sobbed softly. What on earth was she going to do? Where would theygo to? They had to go as far away from those evil people, as they could. They had found them in the village despite the months and the distance. Now that she was alone, who could predict how long it would take before he found her this time?
He could accuse her of anything and the people around would believe him. They had believed him last time and this was where she had ended, without James. She sighed and she pulled a cloth bag out of the pocket inside her coat. It contained the money her friend Katy, had given to her. It was what they were to use to start out their new life at Richard’s cousin’s. Alas, fate had other plans.
She stared down at the money and sighed. It was the cloth bag that had protected it else she would be with nothing. She ran a tired hand through her hair. She could not go to Richard’s cousins anymore. There was a high possibility the soldiers also had spread flyers of her there. The surrounding towns were not safe. She bet that the Indian village was untouched because it was either hidden and away from the eyes of outsiders like her, or the soldiers were scared to approach, or maybe there was a treaty or promise not to. Whatever the reason, she had been there long enough to know that it was the only place she was safe right now. Where else could she run to?
She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She felt so lost, nonetheless, she had to tackle the immediate problem which was getting some food in her. She needed the strength if she was to breastfeed her baby well. And now more than ever, she needed her strength if she was going to embark on a journey away from this place. She stood up determinedly. It was time to prepare some beef stew. It always had a way of cheering her up. Hopefully, it would work this time around.
Chapter Thirteen
"Now that we have decided on the plans for the upcoming season, we can move on to the internal affairs of the village…" the Chief of the Northern Choctaw tribe was saying.
It was at that point Running Wolf shut him out as his mind drifted to a certain red head. Her distressed face and the broken expression in her eyes kept haunting him. He shook his head, trying to drive it out but she kept popping into his mind.
He sighed and adjusted his sitting position. He could not hurt her the way he hurt Fala and their baby. He had to do this.Well, you are already hurting her, a voice said in his head.Did you see her face when you told her she had to leave?
He tilted his head as he thought through it all. His eyes widened as he recalled the flash of terror in her eyes. It had been there for just a moment but he had noticed it. In the heat of the moment, he had chosen not to dwell on it. She was terrified of something out there.
He groaned. Why did he have to do that? For goodness sake, she had washed up on the riverbank for a reason. Maybe someone was after her? Or it had been an accident? Or she had tried to end her life? He shuddered at the thought. She loved Jessica too much. Surely, she would not have tried to… He sighed. He knew for a fact that people could be pushed so far to the point that they did the unthinkable. He had no clue what her life beyond the village borders was. And with the stunt he pulled with her, he doubted he would be finding out any time soon.
How could he think of sending her out there? A nursing mother, alone and scared? How could he even consider letting her go from here.Because she is getting under my skin. She is growing on me and slipping her way into my life without warning,Running Wolf answered his question.
He groaned as he held his head in his hands.
"Running Wolf, is there something you would like to share with us?" the Chief's voice pulled Running Wolf out of his thoughts.
He looked at the Chief, and then his eyes flitted around the chamber. They were all looking at him expectantly. Kahona was smirking.
"Oh crap," Running Wolf muttered under his breath, "Did I say all that aloud?"
"We would all like to know when you plan to leave on your vision quest, Running Wolf," Chito supplied.
Running Wolf smiled gratefully at his friend. Nodding, he said, "Soon, very soon."
