Part 20 (1/2)

Alisha was crestfalen. She had no future with either the red or the white people. ”Do not fret, Alisha,” Powchutu soothed, ”for I wil find some way to get you away from here and these people. I wil return you to the land across the great waters you have spoken of to me. You must be patient until this new trouble is over.”

Alisha wondered what she would have done without Powchutu as her friend. He pa.s.sed no judgments on her. He accepted her for herself. His promise of help and his kind words accepted her for herself. His promise of help and his kind words lifted the heavy burden off her shoulders which Jeffery and al of Fort Pierre had placed there.

Powchutu felt he must ease Alisha's mood even more. ”So much of this trouble is based on the misunderstanding between the white man and Indian. Both sides have suffered greatly since the white man came here. The white man kils to take the land, and the Indian fights back in the only way left open to them, in battle. You have been caught between the two warring sides. On the one side is the white man, jealous and angry because the Indian took you first. On the other hand is the Indian, desiring you but not accepting you because you are white. The pride and hatred on both sides prevents either one from having you.”

”Why do you keep saying Gray Eagle wants me?” lisha asked. ”How could he and do the things he did to me? He only wanted to hurt and use me because I was white and helpless. If he cared for me at al, he would have freed me rather than treat me the way he did. I think my freedom was paid for with the blood of my people and the saving of his life!”

”Alisha,” he chided her. ”You have not been listening to me closely. He proved how much he wanted you by taking you as his captive and keeping you in his teepee. Gray Eagle does not take white slaves for himself, nor Indian slaves. He's never even taken a wife. He has shown his desire for you before his people and his promised mate. He feels he shows weakness before his warriors to take and keep one of the enemy for himself, especialy when that lovely enemy” refuses to be subdued and conquered. It is a frightening and disgusting thing for a man like him to feel he has shown weakness and a lack of wisdom. He makes up for this by showing his power over you and his lack of feelings for your pain showing his power over you and his lack of feelings for your pain and suffering. He tries to make a joke of your humiliation, to pretend this is why he keeps you. He uses harsh punishments to keep you in line and to prove you are only a slave to him, nothing more.”

Powchutu wavered. Which was more important, for her not to know Gray Eagle's feelings for her and let her think she had only been taken as a wh.o.r.e; or tel her she must have been very special to him and let her see her true worth and value? To be taken with love and desire would be far less painful and shameful for her to accept than to have been taken for hate, spite and abuse as a wh.o.r.e. He would tel her the things she needed to hear, truth or not. Hopefuly she would never see the warrior again and Powchutu's own words would not matter one way or the other, except to ease her shame.

”He must at al cost save face and dignity. Pride is most important to him, more important than his life or yours. You presented a very big problem to him. He finds it impossible to fight his mind with his heart. If I were you, Alisha, I would carefuly study my feelings and place a guard over them. You have a tendency to reveal far too much with your eyes. When you speak his name or talk about him, your eyes soften and your voice is sweet and caressing. It would be a tragic mistake if the others guessed your true emotions ...”

Alisha flashed him a look of guilt and panic. Was he saying it was evident to him because he knew her so wel, or to everyone?

She admitted, ”I am so confused, Powchutu. How do you deal with emotions you cannot understand or explain? How can you control such feelings? By al that is sane, I should hate him for al he has done to me. Heaven help me, for I cannot. He has created feelings done to me. Heaven help me, for I cannot. He has created feelings inside of me I never knew or felt before. It is like a fire I cannot control or extinguish. It burns at the very thought or sight of him. I must not... I cannot love him, for I can never have him. What shal I do?” she pleaded in anguish, ”... for I shal never see him again and yet, my heart cries out for him!”

Powchutu wished with al his heart she could feel and say those same things about Powchutu one day. Was there any hope she would turn to him if Gray Eagle was out of her life for good?

Did he dare not warn her about the trouble brewing? ”Do not be so positive you have seen the last of him. He is not a man to give up what he feels is his.”

Alisha brightened. ”Are you suggesting he might try to recapture me? But there is no way he could get to me here.”

Powchutu's words flashed vividly across her mind. She would never return as his concubine with Chela in the same teepee as his wife. ”You said we could leave here and go to another place to live when this trouble is over, didn't you?”

The word ”we” seared across Powchutu's brain, and he smiled. ”Yes, I did, if you'l trust me enough to leave here alone with me.”

She met his steady gaze and replied, ”I would trust you with my very life, Powchutu. If I cannot trust the only friend I have, then I am doomed. You are al I have. I need you. When the time is right, we wil go far away from this dreadful place and people. We wil be a family, just you and I. We wil always love and care for each other. Agreed?”

She was speaking of a brother-sister relations.h.i.+p. Deep inside he knew this, but alowed himself to hope that with time, it would be more, much more.

more, much more.

They were both silent and thoughtful for a time. Powchutu took her arm and they headed back for the fort. As they entered the gates and headed for the Philseys' quarters, they were quickly aware of the attention they were attracting. There was no way they could hide their meeting, so why try?

When the lieutenant strode into the general's office, Galt looked up. ”I was just about to send for you, Jeffery,” he said. ”I don't like the trouble the Injuns are brewing. They are trying to wipe out every white settlement and fort in this entire area. Powchutu says the war councils are meeting in the camp of the Blackfoot with Black Cloud. If they decide to attack here next, I'm not too sure we could hold them off for very long. If the war party is large, we won't be able to hold them off at al. If only those new men and supplies I requisitioned would get here soon! Hel, what good are guns without bal and powder? I hope to G.o.d those savages don't know how bad we're hurting.”

Jeffery's eyes gleamed. He saw this as an excelent opportunity to be rid of Powchutu for a time, and with any luck, for good. ”Sir, don't you think we should send someone for help? I'd say someone who knows this area and people the best.”

The general rejected his idea, ”No, Lieutenant Gordon. We've lost two men already. We had better hold onto the few men we have left. Those last few raids cost us too many men and supplies.”

General Galt paced the floor nervously, muttering to himself. Jeffery tried again, ”Why don't we send Powchutu out to scout around some more, see what he can learn? He might find out what they're up to or where they plan to attack next.”

General Galt stil refused his idea, ”No, again. I'm afraid we'l General Galt stil refused his idea, ”No, again. I'm afraid we'l need Powchutu here if they attack. He's the only one who could speak with them.”

”Hel! General. Those savages wouldn't dare to attack here. They wouldn't stand a chance of a s...o...b..l in Hades in a fight against us! I wish Gray Eagle would try to raid here! I'l clip the great eagle's wings, and stuff my pilow with his feathers and scalp!

I have a personal score to settle with him.”

The general said, ”I suggest we cal in al the officers for a meeting. We had better plan some strategy if an attack comes. It wil be imperative to make a strong showing in the beginning.”

Jeffery rose, saluted lazily, and answered, ”Yes, Sir. I'l see the men are here at 1800 hours.” He left.

He halted just outside the general's door to watch a scene which had instantly caught his attention. Alisha was entering the gate on the arm of the scout. His arms stiffened, his fists clenched and unclenched, and his eyes burned with hatred and fury. d.a.m.n that vixen! he seethed. You've puled your last insult at my expense, Mr. Scout! I'l fix you both! He caught the eyes of several nearby men. He nodded toward Alisha and Powchutu, and spitefuly gave the signal they had seen many times before.

Several of the men were bewildered and surprised. He had expressly ordered al the men to leave that girl alone. The signal was unmistakably given once more. It was definite he wanted her included in on the railery today. They surmised, she might be playing too hard to get, or being just a mite too friendly with that Injun. They figured he wanted to teach her a lesson or two. A few of them maliciously thought, she deserves it too, fraternizing with a red sc.u.m...

The men began to tag along behind Alisha and Powchutu. The men began to tag along behind Alisha and Powchutu. They nudged and poked each other in the ribs, snickering and loudly whispering. The tempo and crudity steadily picked up as more men joined in. Alisha's face was flaming at the vulgarity and filthy gestures.

Powchutu tightened his grip on her elbow to let her know he stood by her. The group moved closer and closer to them as the ribaldry continued. They used words and signs she had never seen or heard before, but instinctively knew were obscene. She walked on, head held high with pride and courage. Tears stung her eyes and she feared she would break down right in front of them. She silently prayed Powchutu would not be antagonized into defending her, for she had no doubts he was sorely tempted to do so. The grip on her arm and the look which had flickered in those slatey eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. His muscles were tight and tense. She longed to tel him it was al right, and give him a smile to prove it, but she dared not look at him again. If he read the expression on her face, he would instantly a.s.sail the closest man. She also had no desire for any of them to see the ful impact of their cruelty upon her.

She was totaly correct in her a.s.sessment of Powchutu's emotions. But he was wise enough to know it would be foolish and futile to take on so many men at the same time, at least in front of Alisha. If he were injured defending her honor, she would be hurt even more. His death would be even more destructive. She would be helpless and alone without him. He felt lightheaded knowing she relied so very much on him.

Powchutu swore to himself to find the time and place to singly take on every one of the men involved in this humiliation. This thought gave him the strength to close his ears to their words and his thought gave him the strength to close his ears to their words and his eyes to their gestures. He concentrated on getting her to her quarters as quickly as possible, but with her pride intact. Without warning, a loud, spiteful voice ripped across the air, ”s.l.u.t! Red wh.o.r.e! Where you hurrying to? Prefer Injuns to soldiers?”

Alisha's heart sank. It was Kathy.

Kathy launched into a vicious attack. ”I saw the way you carried on with that Injun in his camp. Now here you are trying to act like Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. Wel you ain't fooling n.o.body. They al know what you are and what you done.”

Kathy had been viewing the whole scene from the captain's window. She had waited a long time to publicly humiliate Alisha and now had the chance- and everyone's approval. Kathy raced out of the captain's room.

Alisha was so stunned she stopped in her tracks. In just a moment, Kathy stepped in front of her and blocked her path. Alisha stared at Kathy in astonishment. She could not believe a. woman would say such things, or even think them. Her malevolence and crudity shocked Alisha. She said, ”Kathy! You can't possibly mean such awful things! How can you stand there and spit out such vicious fabrications? You were there also and you know how we were both treated. Why would you say such terrible things?'

”Ha!” she wildly exclaimed. ”Sure I saw how we were 'both'

treated. I was forced to live and work like a dog, while you paraded around like some ivory G.o.ddess. You, a slave? That's a joke! You were nothing more than his harlot. You had the gal to live and sleep with the very man who murdered al our people. Why, you care more about him than your own kind. I saw you two, Why, you care more about him than your own kind. I saw you two, walking and talking like two lovers. You trailed around behind him like some lost puppy.”

Kathy warmed to her diatribe. The soldiers jostled and surrounded the two women and the scout. Kathy shrieked to a rapt audience, ”I even saw you bathing with him and you didn't even mind a bit! You looked at him with that sweet, innocent look, and smiled that sickening smile, and fondled him at every chance like he was your knight in s.h.i.+ning armour. Why, you couldn't keep your hands and eyes off of him! Don't try to tel me you didn't like him! I got eyes in my head, ears too! I ain't dumb neither! You're just a cheap s.l.u.t!”

Alisha had paled at her obscene attack. Her face was almost colorless, except for the two bright patches on her cheeks. She whispered, ”You're wrong, Kathy. How could you hate me so much? You know you're lying, but they don't. Why are you doing this to me? How can you stoop so low?”

”I see your little game. You're trying to convince these men you were innocently and badly used. Poor thing!” she sneered. ”It won't work. I've already told them everything about you and him. They know about how you tried to help him back at our fortress, feeding and doctoring him. If you asked me, I bet you're the one who released him during the night so he could escape.”

Alisha shouted back at her, ”You're a liar! I did not help him escape. I had about as much to say about his taking me, as you had to say about who took you.”

Alisha glanced aorund her at the expressions on the men's faces. She studied the distorted hatred on Kathy's face. She looked into the vengeful, bitter face of Jeffery. His face fairly shouted, ”I told you so,” and ”beg me to stop it.” She was only an outcast, told you so,” and ”beg me to stop it.” She was only an outcast, unwanted, hated and mistrusted.

Their faces swam before her vision and she wavered slightly. Powchutu feared she was about to faint. He puled her away from the crowd and hastily led her the *remaining distance to the Philseys'. He could hear the tirade of curses and insults coming from the group left behind. Kathy was beaming with pleasure for finaly getting a chance to knife Alisha in the back. Alisha immediately went to her room and closed the door. She ran to the bed and threw herself upon it. She dissolved into heartbreaking sobs. Why had they been so mean? she cried in anguish. What have I ever done to any of them, or to Kathy? They seemed to be enjoying what they were doing to me. Their hatred and brutality is far worse than yours, Wanmdi Hota. At least, you believed you had reasons to hate and abuse me. They do not. Oh G.o.d, wil it never end? How much more can I bear? What shal I do? I would rather be back at the vilage than live through another scene like that one.

Hatred and cruelty from the enemy does not hurt like hatred from one's own people. Had they already forgotten her condition when she was brought here? Besides, she had not asked to be rescued. And if they knew she would be treated like this, why did they bother to do so? If they believed she was truly Gray Eagle's woman, how did they account for her torture and abuse? This contradiction made absolutely no sense. How could she ever go out of the room and face any of them again?

Her heart beat sad and heavy in her chest. She remained in her room, al alone, for the next day. She refused to see Doc. She did not eat. She did not light the lantern that night. She just lay on her bed in the dark, staring up at the ceiling. She did not move when the bed in the dark, staring up at the ceiling. She did not move when the light tapping came on her window that night. Time could not lessen the pain in her heart, for nothing could ever remove the sting of humiliation she had suffered. Except for Powchutu, she was al alone, orphaned, penniless and friendless. There was no escape from her torment and agony.

Powchutu had hastily left the fort. He rode his horse swift and hard to release the pent-up fury in his body, He had seen Alisha safely to her room, then mounted up and rode off. He knew he might kil somebody if he didn't get away from the fort for time to cool his rage.

When he had returned after dark, he was hurt she could not even reach out to him in her pain. When she did not come to answer his signal, he realized she would need time to recover from the pain she had undergone. He swore, I cannot wait for the trouble to be over here. I must take her and leave here immediately. In a few days, we wil be gone...