Pierce wonders to the closest mound where a frozen face stares up at him. He kneels down to swipe the slushy snow and gags when he recognizes the woman’s face. Leaping up, away from the body he shouts out in horror.
“They mutilated her!”
Dane rushes to his son, while Steele walks over and takes a closer look. Her nose is missing.
“Damn!” Steele walks to a second body with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He inspects the closest victim, before turning to his family.
“All of them, so far, have been mutilated in some way.”
“Why would the Army condone this?” Pierce demands.
“I don’t know, Son,” Dane replies hoarsely.
“The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can report to Chase. They need to know what happened here.” Steele snaps.
“The wagon train will be here soon. For now, we can ride through and see if we can find any survivors.”
“Harris said we…” Pierce starts to say, but Steele interrupts him.
“I know what Harris said, but let’s pray he’s wrong.” Steele mounts up and rides towards the river.
Dane and Pierce follow slowly, “I hope Harris found Kimani.”
Chapter 16
“Harris went to get cleaned up, Vanessa. I hope you don’t mind, but I thought you’d like a bath.” Melody offers opening the door and gestures to the women waiting to come inside.
Sutton carries in a large copper tub and places it in the center of the room with help from Trent. Vanessa doesn’t reply, she sits in the corner and stares out of the window. Sutton frowns, and they all start bringing in buckets of water.
“I thought with your injured leg this would be best. Though we have running water at the main house, we haven’t gotten to it in the smaller cabins yet.” Melody chats softly and signals for them to leave her.
Vanessa startles when the door closes. “Thank you.” Glancing down at her borrowed nightgown and robe she frowns. “How long has it been?” she murmurs.
“Six days, since we found you.”
“I must look and smell horrible.”
The water looks tempting, and Melody smiles at her.
“I can help with that.” She offers a hand and helps her stand up slowly. Her leg is healing quicker than her ribs. Gasping in pain, she clutches at her ribs and takes a slow breath.
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea, after all,” Melody frowns.
“No,” Vanessa clutches at her hand, “Please, I want to feel… clean again.”
Melody grins, “That settles it then.” They walk to the tub and Melody helps her into the steaming water.
Vanessa groans in ecstasy. “Tukumpeh!” She glances at Melody and smiles, “Heaven!”
Melody blanches when she sees the cuts, bruises, and scars littering her body. “Thank you,” she offers her a rag and bar of soap.
“I hope you like this soap, I made it from honeysuckle and rose.” Melody offers her a pink bar.
Vanessa smells it, and her eyes fly open wide with delight. “Oh, debizizzaa!”
“I hope that means you like it?” Melody asks.
“Yes, it’s Shoshone for wonderful!”
“You were raised by the Shoshone?” she asks quietly.
“Yes. Ahbe’ found our wagon train when I was a toddler.” She sinks low into the water and sighs in relief. “My father said I was the child of his heart,” she murmurs and closes her eyes tightly against the memory of her family.
“I see.” Pity fills her heart when she thinks about the loss this woman has experienced. Two families in such a short time. How will she survive it? “I’ll just go get you a change of clothes. I have a dress that will fit you.”
The soap is put to good use as Vanessa scrubs her body twice, before, deciding to wash her hair. She ducks her head beneath the water to rinse her hair, and when she opens her eyes, a silent scream erupts as Nashca’s lifeless body stares back at her. She erupts from the water screaming and coughing, scaring Melody to death. Shivering, she wraps her arms around herself and sobs out, “Nashca!”
Harris is outside when he hears the scream. He bursts inside with his pistol ready and stares at her trembling in the tub.
“Nashca,” she cries, hiding her face in her upturned knees.
“I’m so sorry, Dr. Rivers! I only went to grab a change of clothes for her,” Melody exclaims.
“It’s okay, Melody, I’ll stay with her.” Kimani seems oblivious to the fact that she’s naked in a tub in front of him, but he can’t bring himself to leave her.
Melody nods and lays the clothes on the bed before leaving. Vanessa shakes herself and grabs the bar of soap with trembling hands and begins to soap her hair. Hissing in pain at the tenderness in her scalp.
“What happened to Nashca?” he asks softly kneeling next to the tub. Harris scoops a cup of water and pours it over her back to keep her warm. His eyes trail over her back, smiling at the freckles that star her pale skin. His Doctor’s eyes categorize every bruise, scratch, and cut. There is nothing sexual about seeing her in this condition.
“She was so excited, Harris. Dyami made his offer, and it was accepted.” Tremors rack her body, but she smiles softly thinking of her sister’s joy.
Harris pours water over her back. “Look up,” he pours water over her hair when she responds and washes the soap clear. Blood tinged streaks stream down her bruise covered back from her hair as he rinses it.
“They shot her. Thank God she wasn’t alive for the rest. They roped her like a biavie,” animal, she whispers, “dragging her from the water.” Vanessa doesn’t see the horror in his eyes as he rinses her hair.
“Where were you?” he asked.
“I tried
