“Thank you,” Kimani offers her some bread and broth, as the two women rise and clean up. Bronnah yawns and dips the bread in the broth to eat. The women encourage her to lay down and cover her with the fur.
Outside the teepee, the drums beat, and despite the noise, she's asleep within minutes. Kimani stays and watches over her as promised.
Chapter 36
Chief Bodawae stares at Chase across the fire in the center of the war tent. His son, Nootau sits beside him and passes the cup to his father. Chase faces them with Jack, Davis, and Rev by his side.
“It will be an act of war for you to keep these men, Chief,” Jack explains. As an Army Ranger, he knows that the relations between the Indians and Soldiers is tenuous.
“You know our ways, Winema.” Chief Bodawae purposely uses his given name. “Would you have us do nothing when our family and yours is threatened?” Angry voices rise and ripple around the tent in rhythm to the drums beating outside.
Chase lifts a hand, and the voices fall silent. "I am forever grateful to you. I am only thinking of protecting the tribe. It is bad enough that I brought this danger to you. I, and I, alone, will carry this responsibility."
“Ah, but you’re never alone, Winema.” Chase is humbled when the Chief again calls him by his given name. He earned the name, Fury, during a fight with his Indian brothers. “Your mate was almost killed, and your family threatened. How do you plan on stopping this threat?” he demands.
Chase struggles to stop the rage from showing, only the tremble in his hand gives away his true feelings. Nootau watches his "brother" and knows what it must take for him to remain still. "If it were up to Winema, I would handle this threat in the way of our people, but as it is, I will send for soldiers from the nearest Army Fort. They will bring help and arrest them. If we leave first thing in the morning, we can meet them halfway."
Nootau has sat quietly listening to the tribe around him. “Leave us,” he demands suddenly, and no one questions the son of the Chief. They file out leaving Chase to face only the Chief and his son.
"You may take the Sheriff, but the others are ours. They killed two of our boys."
Chase doesn't argue, he is happy with that. He knows if he releases them, his family will never be safe. He nods in agreement. "I'm sorry."
"If we do as you wish, I would ask a favor of you." Nootau looked to his father who gives a nod of permission.
“Anything,” Chase replies.
"War is coming, Chase, for our people and yours. We are leaving in the spring." Chase sits taller and starts to argue, but the Chief holds up a hand stopping his refusal.
"You have been gone a long-time brother, it's time. We will not be drawn into a War that can only paint the land with blood. We are meeting the other tribes to discuss our future. I would ask that you take Kimani home with you." Chase is stunned.
"We've done our best to raise her as one of our own, but she's not accepted by the tribe. No one will claim her as a mate, and they treat her as an outsider. With your family, she will be safe. After the spring tribal, we will deliver her to your family."
“Of course, we will offer her a home where she will be loved and protected. You know the same goes for all of you.” Chase stares hard at Nootau. “We can offer you the same.”
Chief Bodawae smiles at his son. "We will not hide from our fate. You may have the one who wears the false star."
"Thank you." Chase is relieved, and now all he can think of is returning to Bronnah. “Has Harris been sent for?"
"Yes, waiting outside. Your woman has much spirit," Nootau smiles remembering how she faced them all.
“Catoya,” Chief Bodawae grins.
“Yes, she is spirited.” Chase smiles, trying to think of how to describe Bronnah. “Like a rainstorm after a fire,” his smile fades, “she’s fierce and loyal, loving and kind, and she deserves better.” Images flash through his mind of how many times she has been hurt. “It is time to end this.”
Bronnah sits up sweating, heart pounding and calls out for Chase for the fourth time since he left. “Easy, he’s fine. You’re safe,” Kimani promises softly.
Bronnah nods and holds her ribs with a groan. It’s past dark now, and the drums have stopped beating. “No, you don’t understand. We are hunted, we will never be safe.” Kimani helps her stand and listens as she walks her around inside the tent.
“I can show you, so you understand,” Kimani offers and guides Bronnah outside. The night is lit with torches stuck into the ground creating a pathway. Slowly they make their way to a clearing, avoiding the curious eyes of those they pass. Bronnah gasp when she realizes what Kimani meant. Fifteen of the Chen are bound and tied together, some beaten, some bloody, and next to them sits Sheriff Cleveland Howe.
“No!” She jerks away from Kimani and draws her dagger from the belt of her dress. Fury etched in every pore she advances to the clearing where the gathered warrior’s all watch in fascination as she moves in on him. “This is not happening!”
“Achak,” one warrior murmurs thinking her a spirit. Chase is talking to Harris when he hears her scream out. He whirls and moves swiftly to intercept her as she rushes towards Cleveland.
Bound with his arms behind him Cleveland can only watch as she rushes at him with a blade in her hand and kicks him in the ribs. “Monster!” She screams.
