“Please let my child be with me!” Elaina cried.
“Never!”
“The third time she asks, you will be without a hand,” a familiar voice said from outside. Elaina gasped and in that moment, she realized the gunfire had stopped. The wagon’s curtains pulled apart and tears flooded her eyes when she saw him.
“Running Wolf...” she breathed.
“I am sorry I’m late, my darling.”
“Who is this savage?” Grimsson hissed. His next words were cut off by a jab to his throat. He let go of Jessica without struggle and as soon as he had unbound Elaina, Running Wolf gave the child to her. She showered her with kisses.
“How did you find me?” she cried.
“The great spirits, my love. I am sorry, I doubted you for a moment. I am ashamed. All your belongings were gone, and so were you. I am sorry, my love. I should have been here sooner.”
She shook her head, “I was fooled too. It must have been Atola. She had to be the one who went back and got rid of mybelongings.”
Running Wolf’s eyes widened. “How do you know her?”
Elaina quickly filled him in on what happened the day she was taken, and Grimsson’s information. Her eyes darted around and she was astounded. All the soldiers were dead, and all the warriors of the Northern Choctaw Tribe were still standing. She turned her daughter’s face to her breast so she would not see the gore.
“Atola will pay for this,” Chito grunted.
“Yes, she will,” another warrior said. They had all heard her story, “It is no wonder her wimp of a brother ran off as soon as he heard the news.”
“But who is he if he is not your husband?” Running Wolf motioned to Grimsson who was still nursing his throat.
All the warriors looked at her eagerly. Elaina swallowed hard and said, “He lusted after me when I was married to my husband James. He set James up for a crime and we ran off before he could kill him. Unfortunately, he found us after months. James pushed me into the river to save my life and from the cold depths, I watched this horrible man kill James.”
Running Wolf pulled her and Jessica into a hug. Grimsson fell on his knees, “Please spare me. Please forgive me, Elaina.”
“You killed a helpless man. Our brother has claimed the woman you tried to take. So, you shall not live. You shall die by the same sword you lived by.”
Elaina watched with horror as the warrior who had just spoken drew a blade and slit his throat. Grimsson fell forward, lifeless. Running Wolf turned her face away from the scene gently.
“Come on, let’s get you home.”
“Home?” she whispered.
“Yes, my love, home. I am never letting you out of mysight again. And for Atola and her family, they shall pay for this uprising.”
He helped her onto the horse and rode along behind her and Jessica. Elaina leaned into him, feeling safer than she had ever been in her entire life.
The warriors arrived at the village to meet a chaotic scene. Kahona, Tokala and Jalen, Tokala’s friend were tied up in the square. Atola was beside them, pleading. She gasped at the sight of Elaina and Running Wolf ordered some of the warriors that had been left behind to grab her.
There were whispers across the village at the sight of Elaina. The Chief raised his hands and they went silent.
“The pale face will become one of us, for our head warrior who has served our tribe selflessly has chosen to be with her. Will you stand in his way?”
The whispering stopped and women surrounded Elaina. She felt overwhelmed by the sudden friendliness but the feel of Running Wolf’s arm around her waist reassured her.
“What did Kahona and his son do?” Running Wolf asked after filling the villagers in on Atola’s crime.
“They are a family of snakes. Kahona tried to kill the Chief,” a warrior informed him. “And that is not all. Tokala confessed that he sent Jalen to kill you during your vision quest. If you had not cut it short, who knows what would have happened? It was a plan set in motion by Kahona and the two of them. They claim Atola had no idea and she seems as surprised as the rest of us.”
Running Wolf shook his head as he turned to the Chief who said, “Their plan was to kill you and I, then take over.”
Running Wolf crouched beside Kahona as he said, “Why do you hate me so much? Is this still because your son is not the head warrior?”
