The Alchemy of Desire Page 24

  “I suppose you have a point. Maybe we should retire early?”

  “I’m still here and I can hear everything you’re saying,” Cager muttered.

  Diah chuckled. “And why do you have a problem with it? How is this any different from our last night in New Orleans?”

  “At least I offered to help you find one of Sophie’s friends for the evening.”

  “Sorry I’m the only female here, Cager.”

  “Don’t worry, Oni. I had a bit of fun with one of the girls in the camp last night.”

  “Cager!” Diah leaned forward, ready to lecture his brother on taking advantage of women.

  He laughed and stood. “You can’t have all the fun. I think I’m going to get some sleep—I didn’t get much last night.” He winked and disappeared into the tepee.

  “Leave it to him to seduce some hapless female.”

  Oni laughed and massaged his shoulders and back. “Not everyone has your moral standards. I’ve told you it gets very cold here at night. Maybe she was using him.”

  “I’d like to see a woman do that.”

  As she worked the knots out of his muscles, she thought about Chaytonska’s warning. “Diah, do you absolutely need to find the White Buffalo?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “Why? Is it the money?”

  He turned to face her. “Do you think I’d be risking my neck for money, especially for a creep like Jean-Baptiste Lamont?”

  “No, you don’t strike me as the greedy type. Then why?”

  “Because he threatened to come after our mother and sister if we didn’t find it. And I would rather die than allow him to hurt them.”

  The intensity of his love for his family left her speechless. Would anyone in her family do so much for her? Jim, maybe. But not her brother and definitely not her stepfather. He was more than happy to “give” her to Diah.

  “You’re not planning on keeping us from finding it, are you?”

  Oni chewed her bottom lip. If they killed it, they would die according to the curse. But if they didn’t, then their loved ones would suffer. The only way around it would be if someone else killed the White Buffalo and absorbed the curse for them. “No, Diah,” she said at last.

  A yearning filled her and she needed to have him once again before he was gone from her forever. She kept it to herself, though, until they went to the tepee for the evening. Before she crawled under the covers to lie next to him, she unfastened her braid and slipped her clothes off.

  Diah ran his hands over her bare skin. “What are you up to?”

  “I promise to be quiet.” She pressed her lips against his and began unbuttoning his trousers. His cock grew hard under fingers and she smiled when he gasped. He wouldn’t deny her.

  “But Cager is—”

  “He’s asleep.” As if on cue, the faint snores drifted from the opposite side of the tepee. “If you want me to stop…”

  He was already removing his shirt. “I never said stop.”

  Low laughter rose from her throat as she fondled him. “You don’t have to tease me tonight. I might scream if you do. I just want you to make love to me again.”

  “Insatiable woman.” He rolled over on top of her and thrust into her.

  She arched her back and stifled the moan that rose in her throat. It always surprised her how she had to stretch to accommodate him initially, but as he moved inside her, she relished each powerful stroke. No lover had set her on this edge as quickly as he did. It was as if he knew exactly where she needed to be touched. She tightened her muscles around him, wanting to savor each sensation.

  “I’m not going to last long if you squeeze me like that.”

  “Maybe that’s the idea.”

  His reply was a choking noise, followed by his body tensing. She continued to grind against him, reaching her own climax seconds after his and yet still craving more. Would she ever get enough of him?

  “Enough.” He withdrew and fell onto the pile of furs next to her. “Dear God, Oni, you’re going to be the death of me.”

  A shiver went down her spine, draining all the warmth from their lovemaking and replacing it with cold fear. She cuddled next to him. “I hope not. I love you.”

  He covered her hand with his own. “I love you, too.”

  Why couldn’t she spend the rest of her life like this? But in her heart, she knew he would leave her eventually. It would be better if she never had to deal with that heartache.

  She knew what she had to do. Diah wouldn’t kill the White Buffalo. She would.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “I bet she’s going to be hard for you to give up once you go home.” Cager broke the thin layer of ice on the water bucket and reached for the shaving soap. “Hell, I got a hard-on seeing her sleeping in there, knowing she was wearing nothing under that blanket.”

  Diah stirred the porridge and pretended he didn’t hear. His breath froze in a white cloud, and thick frost coated the trees and grass, making them sparkle like diamonds as the first rays of the sun hit them. Winter was coming and their time on the plains was growing short. He’d weighed his options with Oni and he’d finally reached his conclusion. After everything they’ve been through, he couldn’t leave her. “I was thinking about asking her to marry me.”

  The metal cup clattered against the rocks when Cager dropped it. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

  Diah grinned. “Nope. I love her and I can’t think of anyone else I would want to spend the rest of my life with.”

  “But she’s a half-breed. You can’t just waltz her into polite society and introduce her as your wife. And let’s not forget the fact she’s a coyote part of the time. How are you going to explain that one to Mom?”

  “Who says I’ll need to?”

  “Diah, let me explain to you how things work. Women like her are no different from the quadroons and octoroons in New Orleans—fun to play with, but not marriage material. Have you given any thought to how she would be shunned? And what if you have children? Or, excuse me, pups, since they’d be part coyote.”

  His hand tightened around the spoon and his pulse began pounding in his temples. Leave it to Cager to undermine his happy thoughts. “How many times do I need to ask you to stop talking about her that way?”

  “I’m just telling you what everyone else back home is going to think.” The razor scratched against his beard. “That is, of course, if she says yes.”

  “She loves me, too. Why wouldn’t she say yes?”

  “Because she’s not as naive as you are. She’s been caught between two worlds her entire life.”

  Would she refuse him? A hard lump lodged in his throat and he swallowed to try to push it down into his stomach. Could he tolerate her rejection?

  Neither one of them said anything more about it. By the time Oni joined them, his courage faltered. Perhaps it would be best to wait until he knew how she truly felt before he asked her.

  When he looked up at her, the haunted glow of her eyes nearly knocked him off his feet. She looked like she was walking to her own execution. “Oni, are you feeling well?”

  Cager’s gaze flickered between the two of them. “It’s too early for her to show any signs of being knocked up, so get that worried expression off your face, Diah.”

  Anger threatened to boil over inside him, but her cool hands instantly soothed him. “I’m fine. Just tired. I had trouble sleeping last night.”

  “Even after we…?”

  She smiled, but it seemed forced. Shit, had he been reading her affections for him the wrong way? “I’m just worried about what will happen once we find what you’re looking for.”

  “If you’re worried about that curse bull, don’t bother. It’s probably nothing more than a story to keep people from killing the freak of nature.” Cager took a sip of coffee and winced before tossing the contents on the nearby brush.

  “You don’t believe in it, even after everything we’ve encountered so far?”

  He crossed th
e campsite and stood inches away from her face. “No, I don’t. I believe in facts, in what I can see. Hell, I’m not even sure the White Buffalo even exists, so why should I be worried about some curse if I kill it?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You wasichu are so eager to ignore the legends.”

  “That’s because they’re nothing more than legends.” Cager’s hand wrapped around his wand.

  “How can you say that? You dismissed my warning about the tonwan and look what happened. You nearly got all of us killed.”

  “It was probably no more than an elaborate spell cast by your tribe to kill us. Like demons, curses are not real. They only hold power if people are stupid enough to believe in them.”

  Diah stepped between them. “Arguing is getting us nowhere. Oni, what are the legends?”

  Cager rolled his eyes, but she grew quiet and sat by the fire. “Long ago, there was a time of famine. The chief of the Lakota sent out two scouts to hunt for food. One day, they saw a figure in the distance. As they came closer, they realized it was a beautiful young woman in white clothing.

  “One of the scouts was filled with desire for the woman. He approached her, telling his companion he would attempt to embrace the woman and, if he found her pleasing, he would claim her as a wife.

  “His companion warned him that she appeared to be a sacred woman, and to do such a thing would be a sacrilege. The scout ignored his advice.

  “The companion watched as the scout approached and embraced the woman, during which time a white cloud enveloped the pair. After a while, the cloud disappeared, and only the mysterious woman remained.

  “The remaining scout was frightened and began to draw his bow, but the woman beckoned him forward, telling him no harm would come to him.

  “As the woman was fluent in Lakota, the young man decided she was one of his tribe and came forward with his eyes lowered. She pointed to a spot on the ground where the other scout’s bare bones lay. She explained that the Crazy Buffalo had compelled the man to desire her and she had annihilated him.

  “The scout became even more frightened and again drew his bow.

  “At this time, the woman explained that she was waken—holy—and his mortal weapons could not harm her. She further explained that if he did as she instructed, no harm would come to him and that his tribe would be blessed.

  “The scout promised to do what she instructed. She told him to return to his encampment, call the council and prepare a feast for her arrival.

  “The woman’s name was Ptesan Wi, which means ‘White Buffalo Calf Woman.’ She taught the Lakota many sacred rituals and gave them the chununpa, the sacred pipe which is the holiest of all our worship symbols. After teaching the People these things and giving them her gifts, Ptesan Wi left them, promising to return.

  “She walked off in the same direction from which she had come, outlined against the red ball of the setting sun. As she went, she stopped and rolled over four times. The first time, she turned into a black buffalo; the second, into a brown one; the third, into a red one; and finally, the fourth time she rolled over, she turned into a white buffalo calf.

  “The White Buffalo disappeared over the horizon. As soon as she had vanished, the buffalo appeared in great herds, allowing themselves to be killed so the People might survive. And from that day on, the buffalo furnished the People with everything they needed—meat for their food, skins for their clothes and tepees, bones for their many tools.

  “The White Buffalo is the most sacred living creature to the Lakota. It is the embodiment of Ptesan Wi. To harm her would curse you to the fate of the scout who was filled with desire for her.” Oni paused and cocked her head. “I guess the closest thing you wasichu could compare her to is your Virgin Mary.”

  Diah let out a low whistle when Oni finished her story and sat next to her. If there was any truth to the legend, maybe they should just leave the White Buffalo alone. “No wonder you didn’t want to lead us to it at first.”

  “Legend or not, we still have to kill it and take that skin to Lamont, or he’s going take out his revenge on Mom and Hannah. That’s the real threat, not some Sioux legend.” Cager tossed his belongings into his pack and loaded it on his horse. “And Oni, you’re going to take us to it like you agreed. You’re still our guide. I didn’t hire you to fuck my brother until he’s forgotten the real reason why we’re out here, even though that’s what you’ve been doing.”

  Diah couldn’t control his rage any longer. He rammed into his brother. They fell to the ground and he swung his fist. It smashed into Cager’s face and the resulting cry of pain satisfied the anger inside. His brother swung wildly in retaliation, catching him on his mouth.

  “Stop it, both of you.” Oni dug her nails into Diah’s shoulder and pulled him away from Cager. “You’re grown men, not children.”

  Diah wiped the blood from his lip. “How can you stand there and let him talk to you that way?”

  “I think you broke my nose.” Blood flowed down Cager’s face, and the bridge of his nose formed a crooked angle.

  “He’s an ass, Diah. We both know that.” She glared down at Cager. “If that’s what you want from me, then I’ll find it for you. But I’ll be damned if you drag Diah down with you.”

  She spun on her heels and ran away. Before she passed the first pine tree, her body seamlessly shifted into a coyote.

  Diah’s jaw fell as he watched her change. Unlike the golden light that rippled down her body when the healer forced her to shift, this was almost instantaneous. He couldn’t tell where Oni ended and the coyote began. Her stride didn’t break as she went from two legs to four and disappeared into the woods.

  Cager’s eyes widened. “What the hell?”

  “Shut up and get on your horse. I don’t want to lose her.”

  “Her trail will be easy to follow.” He wiped the blood off his face with his sleeve and winced when he touched his nose. “We can’t leave our gear behind.”

  Diah looked to the trees and then back at the camp. He hated to agree with his brother, but he poured the coffee over the fire and ignored the growling in his stomach when he tossed out the porridge. The tepee collapsed as Cager shrank it with a spell, and he secured it to his saddle. Within five minutes, they were packed and ready to go, but he feared it was five minutes too long.

  A howl rose from the next hill and he knew it was Oni calling them. His pulse raced as he kicked his horse forward to follow it. He refused to let her go.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Oni raced through the trees and her anger began to subside. If Diah hadn’t jumped on Cager first, she would have. The arrogant son of a bitch had it coming. She almost regretted pulling Diah off him.

  She stopped in a clearing and looked down the hill. They were packing up the camp. Good, maybe they wouldn’t follow her. She wondered how long it would take for the curse to be fulfilled. If she had enough time, she could kill the White Buffalo and bring the hide to them.

  Every ounce of her being revolted at the idea of doing such a thing. It was wrong to kill such a sacred creature, but if she didn’t, he would. And she couldn’t watch him be reduced to a pile of bones. She howled at the thought of it.

  Clouds rolled across the sky as the day wore on and a cold wind ruffled her fur. She ran deeper into the hills. She would awaken to snow tomorrow if the weather continued like this through the night. Yet another reason to stop dragging her heels about this. The sooner she found the White Buffalo, the sooner they could return to their warm homes in Mississippi and not be at the mercy of the harsh Dakota winter.

  She sniffed the air and smelled a herd of buffalo upwind. She took a few steps in that direction, but then other scents filled her nostrils. Gunpowder. Humans, but not Diah and Cager. She sniffed again. There was something familiar about it. As she followed it, she recognized its source. Hinkle.

  Keeping to the trees, Oni crept closer until she heard voices.

  “The damn buffalo better be here,” Hinkle said. “I’m gettin
g tired of freezing my ass off. Any signs of one, Stiles?”

  “No, sir, but we’ll keep scouting for it.”

  “Good, and if you see anyone else, shoot them on sight.”

  Oni’s breath froze. If the soldiers stumbled on Diah and Cager…

  “But, sir—”

  “Are you questioning my orders, Sergeant Stiles?”

  “No, sir, but shouldn’t we warn them first before shooting?”

  Oni exhaled the breath she’d been holding. Thank the stars someone had enough common sense to see Hinkle’s madness.

  “Now listen to me, Stiles. If you dare question my orders again, I’ll have you court-martialed. I want that hide and I’m not going to share it with anyone else.”

  Oni peeked through the brush at the sergeant’s face. It was clear the way his mouth formed a tight line that he wanted to refuse to follow those orders, but the prospect of facing a firing squad kept him from doing so. “We’ll keep looking for it, sir.”

  She ducked behind a sapling when Stiles passed. He began barking out orders to the other soldiers, who scurried deeper into the woods.

  Hinkle grinned and took a sip from a silver flask. The remains of the afternoon sunlight highlighted the scars on the side of his face. The burns caused his hairline to recede well past his mangled ear and his lopsided moustache appeared almost comical. But the mad glow in his eyes burned with more intensity now and she knew he would stop at nothing until he got what he wanted.

  Her heart pounded and she retreated from the area as quietly as she could. She had to find Diah and Cager before the soldiers did.

  She retraced her steps, pausing to sniff the air and study the ground for any sign of them. The wind still carried the scent of the buffalo herd, which she could easily find once she warned them. A whiff of Diah’s shaving soap lingered nearby and she turned in that direction.

  She heard them before she saw him. “Let’s face it, Diah. We’re lost.”