The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 72

Gavin hadn't planned on touching his wife. No, she would be punished for her betrayal, but it was instinctive. He reached out and clutched her against himself as she struggled to reach for the baby she would never see again.

No, there wasn't a bond, but in the past five minutes, Adelaide had realized her mistake in choosing Gavin over her second marriage. There was no comparison between her husbands and Torris was all she had left to remember Chief Long Knife and the love he had shown her. She wouldn't lose the baby without a fight.

"Let me have my baby!" Addy screamed through her torrent of tears, "I will do anything, just let me keep the child…"

Her weeping fell on deaf ears.

Even Becky turned away from the heart-wrenching scene.

Once again John stepped in. "There, there now, you will forget the baby in time. Seek your husband's forgiveness and you might have another child. Pull yourself together. You are home now, safe in your husband's arms. In time, this will be nothing more than a bad dream, you'll see."

His tenderness seemed to surprise him. Motioning with his hand, John instructed one of the women to come forward.

"Get her washed and changed. The sooner these rags are destroyed, the sooner she will forget," he brushed a damp tendril from her cheek, "Welcome home, my dear."

****

Adelaide was led to another room where water was brought in and warmed over a fire before being poured into a tin basin.

"Get in," an older woman called over her shoulder, "don't worry, I will draw the curtain. Just pass me your clothes through the gap."

"Okay," Addy nodded, the steaming water feeling absolutely marvelous against her aching muscles, but the steam only caused her tears to flow harder as she handed over her native dress, before sinking into the liquid. What was she to do? Clutching her calves, she rested her forehead on her kneecaps, her shoulders shaking with heart-rending sobs.

Silence.

The elderly woman had left with what remained of Adelaide's recent life, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

****

Red Hawk's thoughts were dark as he strode from the fort. If they wanted bloodshed, they'd get it...but at what cost? Wipe out innocent tribes? This wasn't his war. The king of England had no power over him or his people, and yet, it was he who was chewed up and spit out for not delivering more scalps. Well, he'd play the game...but only to a point. John would regret his words.

Jonathan ran after the chief of the Iroquois nation, clutching the wailing infant against his scrawny chest.

"Red Hawk! Chief! Chief Red Hawk - wait!"

The chief turned around to meet the adolescent, frowning, yet not saying a word.

"John sent me to bring you the baby...." He wasn't exactly sure how to proceed but continued regardless." John told me to find you and bring you the baby," Jonathan repeated himself, struggling to catch his breath. "He isn't wanted and John thought maybe you have someone who could take care of him. You know, feed him and stuff."

His frown more pronounced, Red Hawk stepped forward, gazing down into the infant's scrunched features as he wailed pitifully.

"I know this baby…"He spoke more to himself, "Where is his mother?"

"She has been reunited with her husband."

"Chief Long Knife is here?"

Jonathan blanched realizing Adelaide's husband was much more powerful than Gavin and should he find out, there was no telling what he would do.

"Please, I have nothing to do with this. I am only following orders. Please tell his father I am innocent," his voice squeaked.

Red Hawk didn't say a word as he reached for the baby. "I will tell him to show you mercy, but I cannot guarantee he will heed my words should any harm come to his wife…"

"Thank...thank you, Sir!" Jonathan croaked before turning on his heels and running back toward the fort.

"Jonathan," Red Hawk stopped him in his tracks. "Do not breathe a word of what you know. For what you have done for his child, you will be shown mercy, but you must be silent. If you betray our trust, it will not go well for you…"

Jonathan nodded, his face blanched. He'd heard one too many stories of the native's cruelty and had no intention of being on the receiving end. He ran straight for the fortress without a backward glance, until he got to the doorway and then slowed down his pace. He couldn't look like he had just seen a ghost or his life would be in mortal danger.

****

"Well?" John looked up from the fabric he was stacking on a side shelf, "Is it done?"

"Yes...the baby is with the tribe."

"Well done Jonathan."

The secret weighed heavily on Jonathan's chest, but he was sworn to secrecy. He had been forced to play with fire and at that moment, could feel its scorching heat.

****

Chief Red Hawk stood just outside the gate, aware of the shadows within the trees - his eyes and ears.

A moment later, as if on cue, a lone warrior stepped out of the forest. "I can take Toris to his father."

"Yes, tell the chief what took place today. He will want to know. Bring Chief Long Knife his heir. We will await his arrival before we attack. He is one of ours now and this shame will not go unpunished. I will send Morning Dew with you to feed the baby during the journey. It will be Chief Long Knife's decision to keep her once you arrive until he makes a decision about Dark Star. No harm will come to Torris under my watch."

The baby was passed between the men, the warrior disappearing once again within the dense foliage.