Chapter 19 #2
Black Lion saw little to be gained in seeking to change Suzette’s mind—not when her grandmother was missing.
True, Black Lion believed his friend, White Claw, would do nothing to harm the Song Bird, Irena.
But, were his and Suzette’s places reversed, Black Lion knew he would leave nothing to chance; indeed, he knew he would act as his wife was doing.
However, leaving the show behind them would not be without danger.
Any journey ventured at this time of year would be hard on his wife, especially in her condition.
Therefore, in addition to following White Claw and endeavoring to catch up with him and Irena, Black Lion must commit himself to keeping Little Blue Eyes and her babe safe.
There were other dangers as well. Since both he and Irena had signed contracts with the show, it was possible their absence would not go unnoticed, particularly when it could appear to the white men that both women had been stolen, not simply the one.
Alas, he could foresee many dangers and many duties ahead of him on this trip. But it didn’t also follow that their journey together was not to be without…pleasure.
They would be in constant company with each other. This he desired very much. It would allow him opportunity not only to come to know his wife better, but to also persuade her of the truth of his love for her.
Perhaps, if he were lucky, there might even be other pleasures to be found. But he dare not think of any of these now. At present, it would be enough to consider he might be able to persuade his wife to believe in him.
Suzette emerged in record time, dressed in a bicycle ensemble of deep-green velveteen.
It was the height of fashion, with bloomers resembling Turkish trousers disguising her legs so well that, for the moment, her conscience was eased.
Leather boots, which extended up over her calf muscles, would protect her legs and feet.
A deep-green velveteen jacket completed the apparel.
Over her shoulder, she carried a purse which contained every feminine article she could have possibly crammed into it.
There were some particulars a woman could not do without.
Black Lion nodded at her in approval. “We must leave immediately. Already it is the darkest part of the night, and dawn awaits. If we are to make good time, we must go now.”
She bobbed her head. “I am ready.”
“There is one other detail you should know. When on the trail, you must do as I say, without question, for if we are to travel without arousing suspicion, we must remain undetected, and not always will I be able to talk freely to explain myself. Do you think you can do this? Obey without question?”
“Yes, I think so. But you must also keep in mind that I am with child.”
“Hau. Always, though perhaps you might reconsider and wish to stay here while I, alone, find the trail to your grandmother. I am a scout; I am used to my own company.”
“No. I must go with you. Please understand, if I am with you, I am at least involved with rescuing my grandmother. If I stay here, I will do little more than worry.”
“Waste. Will you turn out the light, then?” he asked, and no sooner had she done so than he took her in his arms, planting a kiss directly on her upturned lips.
She moaned, not able to help herself, the sound seeming to rouse him, for his hands roamed up and down her body, over and over again.
It was delicious, and she sighed, melting her body into his. She might have done more as well, but she suddenly remembered this man might have secrets from her as yet undisclosed.
No sooner had the thought materialized than she shimmied out of his embrace, putting some distance between them.
Swallowing hard, she said, “I fear we must set some limits when we are together, for there are still matters between us which are yet unsettled. Know this: as a guide, I put my trust in you, but as a husband, I have little faith. Indeed, until I am able to question Rabbit Leggings thoroughly on the matter, I would ask you to keep your distance from me.”
Although it was evident he listened carefully to her, his jaw had jutted forward. “Then let us go to Rabbit Leggings now and awaken her so you may ask your questions of her.”
“We have not the time to do as you suggest, and you know it.”
“Then perhaps I should tell you,” he said, taking a step toward her. “I have been released from my fear of our making love to one another again. It is no longer necessary for me to withhold myself from you.”
“Oh? You have?” She took a step backward.
“Hau, I have. I can now be a good husband to you.”
His implication was clear, and, though excitement burst along her nerve endings, seeming to come to pool at the apex of her legs, she took another step away from him, if only in self-defense.
“You make a rather vivid point. However, though the prospect is…enticing…we would lose time, and at present, time is precious.”
“Hau, but before we go, I should warn you. We will be much alone, and it is my intention to lure you into my arms and to make you wish to be my true wife.”
She gulped and said nothing. However, she took one more step back in retreat.
He must have recognized the effect he had created, for he grinned and reached out to flick a lock of her hair over her shoulder. Then he smiled. “A man so loves a challenge.”
She inhaled on a breath and retreated farther away from him. “It is not a challenge.”
He simply smiled at her. “Now, about scouting. There are rules you must know and agree to.”
“Oh?”
“Hau, it is so. Firstly, one does not walk, one crawls on one’s stomach or knees and forearms, in your case on all fours.”
“On all fours? You must be joking.”
“I am not.”
“For hundreds of miles?”
“Sometimes we can walk.”
“Sometimes?”
“We must go without detection, and these are the ways it is done.”
Closing her eyes, Suzette shook her head. “Oh, Irena, when we at last find you, you and I will have to have a very long talk.”
He grinned. “Are you ready?”
“I suppose I am.” She sighed.
“Then let us be away.” With no more to be said, he bent down, coming onto his stomach, and, crawling along the floor of the tent in this fashion, he exited out the back of it. She followed him—trying to do as he did—into the cover of bushes and trees.
“Irena, my dear grandmother,” she whispered to herself. “Just wait till I see you again. Just wait.”
It didn’t take long for Suzette to discover that scouting was, indeed, tiring.
Her forearms and elbows, her knees and her calf and thigh muscles would never be the same.
Nor would her bicycling outfit. Already the green velveteen was torn, and though she hadn’t thought to do so, she discovered that Black Lion would often backtrack, culling the ground for what, she didn’t know.
More often than not, he returned with remnants of her clothing.
When she had asked him about it, he had said, “Such cloth as this will indicate our path, and until we are well out of the range of the show’s scouts, we must not leave a trail.”
This was a concept she hadn’t stopped to consider. “Do you think Cody will send scouts after us?”
“He might. Your grandmother was, after all, under contract, as was I.”
“Yes, of course. But isn’t it hard to do—to not leave a trail?”
“This is why I am often returning to go back over our path, to erase the signs of our passage over our Mother the Earth.”
Suzette tilted her head to the side. “Fascinating. It does take quite a bit of time, however. Not that I am complaining. I am happy for the break. But I do worry we may not catch them with ample time.”
“I believe we will find them.”
Suzette sighed heavily before saying, “I am glad to hear it.”
They had ceased their travel for a moment, and were at present encamped beneath a giant oak tree, which sat in a glen protecting a small stream.
Reaching into the pouch he wore over his shoulder, Black Lion protracted from it a breakfast of dried meat and chokecherries.
Luckily, the stream would provide a drink of cool, refreshing water, making their breakfast complete.
“We could go on a little farther,” he said, “while the light is still dim, but I think not. We will rest.”
Though Suzette was so tired she could have gone to sleep right there, she objected. “I thought we would not stop at all.”
“We must rest during the day.”
“Rest?” she asked, even while she lifted drowsy eyes to meet his. “Rest when Irena’s life is in danger?”
“We do not know that her life is in danger,” he corrected. “We rest because you are tired.” And, with this said, he reached for her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. “You are with child. Do not forget this.”
“How could I possibly forget it?”
“Also, if we are to find your grandmother, we must not be caught ourselves. Therefore, we will proceed only during the evening hours, when our chances of being seen are slim. During the day, since we must stop anyway, we will rest.”
“Yes, yes, but—rest during the day?”
“Hau, I think we will erect a shelter here, since there is good cover, as well as water for food and for bathing.”
“Could I not simply lie down beneath this tree?” She yawned.
“And be easily found?” He grimaced. “I think not. Come, you can help me with this, if only a little, for I will need many sticks and pine branches.”
She sighed. “Oh, very well, if I must, I must.”
In the end, she did help him to erect a shelter. Made of earth, leaves, pine boughs, branches and grass, once Black Lion had landscaped the earth around it, it fit so well into the scheme of the landscape around them, it did literally disappear into the environment.
By the time it was finished, Suzette was so fatigued that, as soon as her bed of pine branches was laid out within the neat little lean-to, Suzette collapsed upon it.
At least her overexertion was good in one respect: it made for a very peaceful sleep, indeed.