They exchanged looks, and one spoke up, “Are you talking about the pale face? I am sorry, Running Wolf. On this mission, I will not go with you. She is not one of us.”
There were whispers of agreement around. “I beg you. She and her child are my family, just as you all are.”
They turned their faces away. Running Wolf nodded, “Sobe it then. Goodbye brothers.”
He hoisted himself on his horse when a voice from a corner said, “How do you know she is in trouble?”
Running Wolf turned to Chito, desperation in his eyes, “The spirits showed me, my friend. She didn’t leave me behind. She was taken.”
“Then I shall ride with you, till death,” Chito said without hesitation. He turned to the other warriors who were trying not to look at either one of them. “Come rain, come shine, Running Wolf has always been a support for us. Not a one here has longed for help and not found it at his hands. Never has he asked for anything from us. Are you going to turn your back on him when he needs us more than ever? She might not be family to you but she is family to one of us. That should be all that matters.”
There was only silence for a moment and then, there was a flurry of activity as the warriors climbed their horses.
“I will be back,” Running Wolf announced, and he rode off to the Chief’s tepee. Running Wolf immediately fell at the surprised Chief’s feet.
“Running Wolf, what are you…?”
“She is in danger, Chief. She was taken away and I need to save her. Please give me your blessings to bring her back into the village. She will not be safe out there.”
The Chief patted his head and said in a strong voice, “Go and conquer as always Running Wolf.”
Running Wolf galloped out of the village and riding beside and behind him were several of the warriors, his brothers.
*
“You are a horrible person, Grimsson and I will never beyours!” Elaina spat at him. He stroked her cheek and she turned her face away.
“You will behave, Elaina, or else your little one here will get hurt.”
Elaina shut her eyes as she fought back tears. How had all this happened? Jessica was in danger, and Running Wolf was going to think she abandoned him. She sobbed silently. The last thing she remembered was walking through the forest with Atola. They had walked for a long time. And then, she had told Atola she wanted to go back. She had left James before and she had no plans of leaving the man she loved behind again. They had struggled and that was the last thing she remembered.
“It was her, Atola, she did this!” Elaina gasped as her eyes flew open.
Grimsson shrugged, “I do not know who she is. She simply approached me a month ago and said she knew where you were. You see darling, I have your posters everywhere as you are my wife. She found me that way. I do not even know where she is from, and she did not ask for anything but for me to take you faraway. I gladly accepted and waited patiently. I did not know where you were but I chose to trust her and she delivered.”
“You are a vile man, Grimsson. You killed James. Do you honestly think I can be with you?”
“You have no choice. I am with your baby and I have an army behind me. Leverage and power, it does not get better than that, does it?” He cackled.
Elaina sniffed and she stared longingly at her baby. She whispered, “It’s going to be fine, Jess. It will be fine.”
Jessica kept struggling against Grimsson, but he refused to let her go. Elaina sighed and said in her heart,I really hope you trust the love I have for you, Running Wolf. I hope you don’t live with the thought that I abandoned you. Be happy.
The air was filled with the sounds of neighing horses as the wagon pulled to a halt. Elaina could hear similar sounds around.
“What on earth is happening out there?” Grimsson hissed.
“Sorry sir, the wagon up front is being delayed. I will check,” the footman said and hurried out.
“These fools don’t know what to do...” Grimsson hissed.
At that moment, gunfire filled the air. Elaina gasped, at the same time, Grimsson fell to his knees in the wagon.
“Highway robbers,” he kept screaming.
“Unbound me and give my baby to me!” Elaina begged.
“Never! I won’t let you get away. My soldiers will take care of these scoundrels and we will be on our way.”
