The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 55

Freeing himself from Jaira's grip, Eagle took a deep breath. "Jaira, it can never be. You are bound to your husband. I cannot remain here and there is no future for you if you come with me. I will not take you from your husband. To do so would make me dishonorable…"

"I don't care! I'll take the blame," Jaira sobbed, "I love you!"

Eagle stepped back, unable to hide his emotions at her declaration. He bit his tongue - hard - to keep himself from telling her that he loved her as well. Fate had dealt them a bitter blow.

"You belong here with your sister," Eagle began again, frustrated at not being able to keep raw emotion from his voice. "She needs you more than ever. For your sister's sake, you must stay. Give Strong Oak a chance. In time, you may grow to love him…"

His own words punched him in the gut.

Jaira lowered her head, tears coursing down her fair cheeks.

"Will I ever see you again?"

Eagle couldn't tell her the truth.

"I am sure fate will cause our paths to cross again."

Jaira's shoulders shook with heart-rending sobs.

"Jaira," Eagle tilted her chin, brushing her tears away with his thumb, "Do this for me. Out of the love you have for me, try to accept this new life. Be the brave woman I would want you to be. If it helps, when your husband comes to you, close your eyes and imagine it is me holding you in my arms. You will please your husband and it will be easier for you. If things had been different…"

Jaira didn't care about protocol. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips against his.

Eagle tasted her tears for a second before pushing her away. He would not allow himself to be shamed. This tribe had been hospitable and he would not disrespect them now.

Jaira walked slowly back to the longhouse without looking back, rubbing her tear-reddened eyes with her knuckles.

Life was cruel.

****

Strong Oak frowned as he observed his wife with Eagle. A blind man could notice there was something up with them.

"Are you going to allow your wife to make a fool of you?"

Strong Oak refused to acknowledge Raven's jeer.

"You'll be the laughing stock of the tribe if you don't take matters into your own hands. Jaira's making eyes at that warrior could be seen by everyone. Oh, and he's Mohawk," Raven emphasized the word in case there was any doubt that Jaira's flirting with the enemy wasn't a knife to Strong Oak's heart. He wasn't about to let up, "How do you know they haven't been intimate?"

Rage boiled within Strong Oak's brawny chest.

"Enough!"

Raven laughed.

The seed had been sown.

****

"Jaira," Dark Star placed a hand on her sister's forearm, gently restraining her. "We clearly need to talk but right now the tribe is grieving. It is neither the time nor the place to be causing a scene. You are bringing disgrace to your husband..."

"Don't even go there, Adelaide! I swear this is not the time."

"In case you haven't noticed, Jaira, we are living among wild people. Think before you react, that is all I'm trying to say. An attempt to fit into the tribe would go a long way. In fact, I'd bet you'll earn more respect than flirting in front of your husband."

"Ah, I see what this is all about now. Let me clarify a little something before you get all high and mighty on me. I didn't get to choose the man I was married off to and I can sure as heck guarantee that it wasn't for love.

Unlike you who married at the top of the totem pole going straight for the chief, I wasn't given a choice. What did you do? Pick a name out of a hat? Give me someone no one else wants? If he is such a fine husband, why didn't you marry him instead of the chief? Oh right, he was beneath you."

Jaira nearly grinned at her sister's stunned, speechless expression.

"You might want to back off, Addy, I'm still grieving William's death."

If that were true, she wouldn't have been all but falling at Eagle's feet.

Jaira didn't have time to rethink her words as Strong Oak stepped out of the shadows.

"You will not speak to our chief's wife in that manner again."

The tone of his voice assured her she would regret it if she challenged him.

"Right…" Jaira's bitter laughter filled the longhouse, "You are going to tell me how I can speak to my sister? It's because of her that I was left behind. Apparently, she needs me…"

Jaira didn't look at Dark Star, now defying Strong Oak with her hands on her hips.

A shadow rested in Strong Oak's eyes.

"If you hate me this much, I will release you from our marriage. Forever."

Emotion strangled his throat. It would have been less painful if she'd never returned.

****

The situation between the sisters was escalating quickly on Chief Long Knife's first day as chief. The Mohawk tribe's grief was fresh and raw, emotions high. The timing of this argument was completely wrong.

Gretjen rose from where she had been sitting beside Brown Sparrow cradling baby Eagle. She didn't look at Strong Oak who was clearly struggling to maintain his composure, holding onto his thunderous scowl. His presence was only heightening the tension in the suddenly cramped longhouse.

"Jaira, come with me," Gretjen held out her hand toward the young woman, her voice soothing.

Jaira really didn't have much choice. Where was she to go at this hour? There was no way she would be able to find Eagle now on her own and as for her sister...no, she would rather sit on the opposite end of the lodge than be anywhere near her sibling.

Following the older woman's lead, Jaira crouched down beside Gretjen, ignoring Brown Sparrow and her whimpering infant. If she could just be left alone…