Chase moved toward her, but Jessie quickly stepped back from him.
“Perhaps I should put it another way,” Jessie said. “One shout from me, and every tepee around here will empty within moments. And I’ll leave you to explain your way out of it.”
Chase sighed. “You win.”
Jessie’s temper rose, now that she didn’t feel threatened anymore. “You’re crazy, you know that? What the hell were you intending to do, anyway?”
He shrugged and said coolly, “Collect a little compensation for my trouble. And maybe make you eat your words about not liking my company.”
Jessie gasped. “You think all you have to do is kiss me and I’ll forget everything else? God, you’re conceited!”
“Afraid it might be true?”
“I won’t even answer that. And I don’t know why I’m still standing here talking to you. If you’re going to leave now, I’ll go get my horse.”
“So you are going with me?”
“No,” Jessie replied hesitantly. “I’m letting you borrow my horse.” She prayed he wouldn’t explode.
His voice rose. “Is something wrong with Goldenrod?”
“No, but—” He didn’t let her explain, but turned and started walking away from her. “Where are you going?”
“To get my horse.”
Jessie saw the animal, and realized whose tepee he was tethered at. She ran after Chase and grabbed him.
“You go messing around Black Bear Hunter’s tepee, and you’ll find yourself in a whole lot of trouble.”
“How else am I going to get Goldenrod?”
“You’re not. He’s keeping your horse. You think I’d lend you mine if I didn’t have to?”
His eyes turned black as coal. “You damn well better be joking.”
“Well, I’m not,” she said stiffly.
“Is this another custom here? Like leaving a man tied up all day for no reason?”
“No. It’s just your rotten luck that Black Bear Hunter is the one who found you. He hates whites— including me. If he hadn’t jumped to the wrong conclusion about you it would be different, but he did, and he was furious to learn he was wrong, especially since I was involved. He was made to look like a fool. He’s saving face by keeping your horse. You don’t have a choice.”
“Forget it, Jessie. I’ve had that horse too long to give him up.”
“Look, damn it, just be glad he doesn’t want your saddle and guns, too. He could have left you nothing, you know. He did capture you, spy or not, mistake or not.”
“I’m not leaving here without my horse, and that’s all there is to it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she hissed. “You’d have to fight for him and—”
“Then I’ll fight for him.”
Their eyes locked. “You showed yourself to be ten kinds of a fool for coming here,” she said with forced evenness. “What chance would you have against a Cheyenne warrior? He’d kill you in one minute.”
“He’d have to win first.”
“Damn it, we’re not talking about a test of strength here! I told you he doesn’t like me. He wouldn’t go easy on you because of me, as one of the other braves would. He will try to kill you!”
“You don’t think very much of me, do you?”
She stared at him, aghast. “No, Summers, I don’t.”
“Just arrange it, Jessie.”
“Why won’t you listen?”
His brow quirked. “Since when do you care what happens to me?”
“Oh!” Jessie fumed. “Fight him then!” She stalked off. Chase took a long, deep breath. He wasn’t leaving here without Goldenrod—or Jessie, either.
Chapter 18
JESSIE and White Thunder went to Black Bear Hunter to tell him of the challenge for the golden horse. He agreed eagerly, too eagerly. Jessica pleaded with him not to kill Chase, to let it be only a battle of strengths, but Black Bear Hunter stared at her stonily. Nothing had changed. He would not be merciful.
The whole tribe turned out to watch the entertainment. Wagers were placed, for the Indians loved to gamble. There weren’t too many takers until Chase stripped down to his pants, and then betting began in earnest. Jessie took heart. She should have remembered those thick muscles. Luckily, Chase and Black Bear Hunter were about the same height, and equally muscular.
“You can still change your mind, you know,” Jessie said to Chase.
But before he could answer, his face hardened, and he said, “What’s he doing here?”
She followed his gaze and saw Little Hawk nearing the crowd.
“I got a good look at him before he knocked me down that day, Jessie,” Chase said angrily.
“Watch what you say! He speaks English,” she hissed at him.
“Is that a warning?” Chase asked disdainfully. “Can I expect him to jump me again?”
Jessie quickly pulled Chase back a few feet and whispered, “Damn it, keep your big mouth shut.” Did he have no sense at all? “He’s not from this tribe, but what you do still matters. You came here because of me, so what you do here reflects on me.”
“But he—”
“I’m not referring only to him. Black Bear Hunter happens to be White Thunder’s brother. I’m asking you not to kill him, Chase.”
“Oh, I’m supposed to just let him kill me?” Chase cried. He no longer cared who heard.
“Of course not,” Jessie hissed impatiently. “But if you kill him, I won’t be able to come here again. I’m just saying... don’t if you don’t have to. Just subdue him. See?”
“Sure, I see,” Chase said sarcastically. Then he turned away from her and walked to the center of the circle. Black Bear Hunter was waiting, and as soon as Chase stood before him, White Thunder stepped between them. He said a few words—Jessie couldn’t hear—and then he tied a long sash around both men’s waists. It bound them together for the contest, making it impossible for one to get away from the other. The struggle was more dangerous that way, because it kept the men within easy cutting distance of each other’s knife.
Chase appeared quite calm. Jessie had warned him about the sash, also telling him there were no rules to the contest. He had shaken his head. No rules?
Black Bear Hunter made the first move, an unexpected leap that caught Chase off guard and sent both men crashing to the ground. They were both on their feet again in an instant, the Indian slashing with short jabs, Chase just barely staying out of reach of each thrust. Then Black Bear Hunter charged, his knife held high for a downward thrust. They locked wrists, each one holding the other’s knife hand. The straining of muscles was awesome. The blades were close, but neither man could gain those extra few inches to draw first blood.
Jessie was horrified when she saw the blade turn in Black Bear Hunter’s hand, stabbing Chase’s forearm. Chase lost his hold, and the blade continued downward, slicing his side. The Indian prepared for another thrust, but Chase blocked it with his bloody forearm, then skillfully tripped him.
Black Bear Hunter was down. The sash brought Chase down with him, but he managed to land on top of Black Bear Hunter. They rolled again and again, each one fighting for the upper position. Chase tried to stand, but Black Bear Hunter used the sash to pull him back down and, with a skillful maneuver of his feet, sent Chase over backward. He landed with a thud.
They were stretched out on the ground, head to head. Black Bear Hunter leaned upward on one arm and brought his knife down viciously with the other hand. It would have landed in the center of Chase’s throat, but Chase saw it and moved, with one second to spare.
The look on his face was murderous, and Jessie felt fear wash over her. Chase’s losing control would give Black Bear Hunter the edge he needed, for anger made a man careless.