The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 83

Addy's arms hung limp, dangling towards the earth as George strode forward ordering Gavin to lead the way back to his home.

"Do you have a doctor in this fort?"

"No, of course not!" Gavin snapped, but his features pinched with worry offered a glimmer of hope he still loved Adelaide or at least cared. Distracted, he snapped his fingers at a young boy playing with sticks nearby, "Find Anna and tell her to meet me. Hurry!"

George followed Gavin into a dimly lit room, laying Addy down on the bed Gavin indicated moments before Anna bustled into the room. She barely acknowledged the strapping blonde stranger or Gavin as she headed straight to the bed where Adelaide lay unconscious.

"I warned ye she needed yer tenderness, Gavin. Ye've gone and pushed her to the edge. I pray for yer sake the angel of death ain't a-'coming' for your wife just yet. I've heard of some who have died of a broken heart..." she clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she reached for a nearby basin and cloth. "Be off with ye. The poor lass doesn't need ye hoverin' about..."

Gavin swore under his breath and then left the room followed by George. Without a word, Gavin headed for the building where he'd been when Adelaide first arrived. He had work to do and right now he needed the distraction. Anna wasn't a doctor but she was all they had. If he could have found the portal back to the future, this would be the time to go back. Perhaps it would all be a dream. A nightmare that is soon forgotten.

Anna called out to George as soon as Gavin had disappeared from view.

"There was a chief who came today with a blonde woman and Adelaide's wee bairn. I don't know how but ye must send word to him. Find a way to bring that bairn back to his mamma. I'll deal with Gavin's ire me-self if I must, but this woman is needin' her bairn."

George nodded, stepping out of the door then turned around. "And the baby's father?"

"Do ye know him?"

"Yes, he is our chief."

Anna looked up in surprise. "A good man?"

"The best," George assured the petite Irish woman.

"She needs to be with her husband and bairn. There is no happiness in this place for her. Now, if ye catch my meanin' ye will keep yer own counsel and tell no one else what I have shared except her husband. He must come for her or she go to him," she crossed the room, placing a hand on his arm, "she carries his bairn."

****

"Another baby?"

"Keep your voice low. It is his alright. Gavin hasn't touched her since she arrived. I don't know how we will keep the secret from him if she stays here, so go she must."

It seemed as though fate had decided for Adelaide after all. She carried Chief Long Knife's baby within her - a baby that would never be accepted by Gavin. He'd made that painfully clear with its brother. It was now or never.

Without a word, George stepped into the sunlight.

Now to find Chief Red Hawk.

****

The wind howled against the wigwam's walls, echoing the howling screams of settlers in the distance.

Gretjen rubbed her arms but the goosebumps running along the surface of her skin had no intention of dissipating. In this world, there was no better way to teach a lesson than by the bitter taste of revenge.

Chief Red Hawk led the rain, his hands dripping with the life force of those who never had a chance. The element of surprise proved to be their Achilles heel.

The chief was restless after his return, rubbing the bridge of his defined nose as he glanced over in the direction of the blonde woman surrounded by her equally blonde children. They stood out in stark contrast to the rest of his tribe. Gretjen, however, had proved over the past days her loyalty to Dark Star and that was something Chief Red Hawk admired. He may be many things, but one could never accuse him of breaking his word. He'd give his life to honor a treaty. Now, however, he was in a predicament.

Winter was fast approaching and Dark Star seemed intent on staying at the fort. The dark-haired child at Gretjen's breast needed to be returned safely to his father. The infant would one day lead the Mohawk tribe and therefore, no hard could befall him. Not on his watch. A promise is a promise.

Straightening his shoulders, he stepped forward to inspect the scalps that were stretched out to dry. Fifty. It may appease the blood-thirsty Englishmen and give him another opportunity to negotiate for the release of Chief Long Knife's wife, but would she come willingly?

An unexpected arrival interrupted his thoughts.

"Chief Red Hawk," the tall blonde man lowered his golden head in respect, the late afternoon sunbeams gleaming against his wavy locks. His fair skin had darkened from months in the wilderness, his buckskin attire silently assuring the feared chief that he wasn't an enemy.

The chief's eyes narrowed. He recognized the man from his meeting with Chief Long Knife. Although he hadn't learned the quiet man's name, if Long Knife trusted him, he had no reason not to as well.