her. They whispered over her nakedness and she flushed, backing away
when they would have touched her. Her pale skin was very different from
their own, she knew.
But it was her hair that seemed to fascinate them most--both that upon
her head and that upon her body.
They didn't tease her long, but gave her a new outfit to wear. It was a
soft, pale buckskin much like Nalte's sister's dress, but with no yellow
on it. It fell just to her knees. Her feet were still sore from her
barefoot treks over the mountain trails, and she had hoped that someone
would give her soft doeskin slippers to wear. But nothing was supplied
for her feet, and when she tried to ask one of the women, the Apache
shook her head. They were preparing to go back to the village, and Tess
was to go with them. Tess wondered again about her chances of escaping,
but she had heard that the Apache women could he every bit as fierce as
their men. The women were excited about the young girl they had dressed
so carefully for her rite, but their eyes were still upon her. She
walked along, weary and desolate, trying to focus her thoughts on her
hatred of von Heusen so that she wouldn't be able to fear her own
future, and to wonder desperately about Jamie Slater.
Her eyes were lowered, her head was down when they came into the
village.
She stumbled and looked up to see where she was going.
Looking across the compound she saw that four Indians were in curious
costumes with huge headdresses, obviously preparing for the rites to
come.
But the Indians were staring across the compound at a stranger who had
come among them. For a moment he looked very much like Nalte. Tess
narrowed her eyes, watching the man, trying to figure out why he looked
so familiar. He was dressed in buckskins from head to toe and he wore a
cap adorned with eagle and owl feathers. His hair was black and straight
as Nalte's, but worn shorter. Even as she stared at him, he turned
slowly, pointing her way.
She gasped, stunned to see that the newcomer was Jon Red Feather. He
smiled at her briefly, a sign of encouragement, she thought, then his
expression quickly sobered again, and he continued to talk to Nalte.
The tall Apache was dressed for the ceremony, too. He wore a fringed
buckskin shirt, buckskin pants, high, laced boots and eagle feathers in
his hair. He was also adorned with a turquoise amulet around his neclq
and silver studs and beads upon his bonnet and shirt. He was listening
to Jori Red Feather--and watching Tess gravely as he did.
Nalte nodded, and Jon let out a whistle.
Then Jamie rode into the clearing. He was in calico shirt, denim pants,
knee-high boots and a Western hat. He didn't glance at Tess, but lifted
a hand to Nalte. When he reached the chief, he slipped from the horse
instantly and approached the man, speaking quickly.
She felt as if her heart slammed hard again. ~t her chest. He was a
fool! she thought. He didn't know Nalte, he didn't know how the Apache
chief hated the white man, nor did he seem to realize the things that
had been done to the Apache by the cavalry. Fool! She wanted to scream
to him, but she couldn't breathe, she could only pray that Nalte
wouldn't slay him right on the spot.
Nalte shook his head violently.
Forty warriors suddenly drew their weapons, facing Jamie.
His Colts were around his waist, but he didn't make a move to touch
them. He spoke calmly once again, and Nalte called out something
sharply. Guns and war clubs were lowered.
Frightened still, Tess cried out, shaking off the hands of the women
around her and racing toward Jamie. She pitched herself against him, but
he caught her shoulders hard and thrust her away.
Thrust her away--straight into Nalte's arms. Her eyes widened with alarm
and fury.
"What in God's name are you doing?" she gasped. She couldn't move.
"Nalte's dark fingers were a vise upon her.
Nor did Jamie seem to want her. His eyes flashed upon her with dark
fury.
"Stop it, Tess."
"But" -- "Stop it! Shut up!"
"Damn you, Jamie" -- He switched into the Apache language, addressing
Nalte.
At the last, he spoke English once again.
"Nalte, may Jon Red Feather take the woman away so that we may speak
without interruption?"
"Speak without interruption!" Tess flared. But Nalte was nodding.
"Tess, come!" Jori called to her.
Apparently she didn't move quickly enough. Jamie reached for her arm and
thrust her toward Jon. He pulled her away even as she protested.
"Jon" -- "Tess, he's trying to negotiate for your return."
"They were going to shoot him! I had to do something." She tugged free
of Jon and turned back to watch Jamie, still talking with Nalte.
"What are they doing now?"
"Talking about prices."
"For what?"
"For you, of course," he told her with a crooked smile. "How can Jamie
pay Nalte?"
"Well, he can't pay him ... not very much, that's why he's arguing
that you aren't worth the price."
"I'm not worth the price!"
"Tess" -- Tears touched her eyes.
"He shouldn't he here to begin with! He must not understand Nalte"
"Nalte would have killed most men by now. He is seeing Jamie because he
knows about him, he knows that Jamie has always been fair. Tess, keep
your mouth shut, all right?" She wanted to keep her mouth shut, but she
was still in terror that the Apache would betray Jamie, as they had been
227 betrayed so many times themselves. She was deliriously glad to see
him and Jon, and she wanted to know about Chavez, but she was afraid to
ask. Her temper was rising because she was so desperately scared of what
was to come. Before she could say more, Nalte came striding by with
Jamie and his guard behind him.
Jamie cast her a fiercely warning glare; Nalte barely glanced her way.
They entered Nalte's dwelling.
"What are they doing now?" Tess demanded. "Negotiating," Jon said
briefly.
She started to shiver. Nalte didn't need to negotiate. He could kill
Jamie and ke~P her. He had all the power. He could do anything he wanted
to do.
"There's no hope!" she whispered.
Jon set his hands on her shoulders.
"Courage, Tess. There is every hope. Nalte's little sister begins her
puberty rite today. The rite goes on for four days. The woman over there
will be her sponsor. She is of impeccable character, and she will stand
for the sister. The man there with the buffalo horns upon his cap and
the white eagle feathers, he is the shaman, the medicine man, and he
will add the sacred religion to the ceremony. The girl is dressed for
her role as White Painted Woman or White Shell Woman, a sacred maiden
and one of the most important of the Apache supernaturals.
She will pray to the sun. The dancers with the headdresses, they are the
Gan, or Mountain Spring Dancers.
It is an expensive ceremony, but Nalte is a great chief, and he has
supplied much for his sister's rite. The Gan dancers symbolize the four
directions.
They are elaborate." Tess watched the dancers as they prepared for the
day.
They were painted black and white, and they carried huge fan racks and
wore buckskin kilts. They carried wands. On their arms were trailers
made of cloth and eagle feathers. Their huge masks had false eyes. The
fan racks portrayed snakes and other creatures.
She shivered, grateful that Jori was there to assure her that the
dancers were involved in a ceremonial rite and were not preparing for
war. She looked into his green eyes and realized that he had kept
talking to ease her mind from worry, and she was grateful to him.