Free Savage Autumn by Constance O'Banyon Page B

for the river.
    “Joanna, you come back here right this instant!” Franny cried, but her cry went unheeded. With Fosset’s great strides, Joanna had already neared the river. She didn’t slacken her pace as she entered the river, but forced Fosset onward with an urgency. She didn’t give a thought to the danger she might be riding into. All she could think of was that Tag was in trouble and she must help him.
    As Joanna rode up the bank on the far side of the river, she was immediately surrounded by half a dozen fierce-looking Blackfoot warriors. Fosset reared on his hind legs and pawed at the air, but one of the Indians grabbed his reins and easily subdued him.
    Joanna felt great fear and trepidation as they led her away from the river toward their camp. She took a deep breath, ready to face what lay ahead. Holding her head high, she tried not to look at the half-dressed savages.
    Silence fell over the crowd of Indians as she was led to a large tipi. One of the Indians pulled her roughly from the horse and shoved her forward. She stumbled and fell at the feet of the man who was obviously the chief.
    If she judged correctly the man would be somewhere around her father’s age. His dark eyes rested on her flaming hair, then he looked into her violet-colored eyes.
    Joanna stood up slowly and faced the man defiantly. She had once heard that Indians admired bravery, and she wasnot about to allow them to see how frightened she really was. Tag’s life might depend on the way she handled herself.
    “I have come for my brother,” she said, fearing her courage would desert her.
    Running Elk looked Joanna over from head to toe. Never had he seen a white woman of such beauty. He judged by the color of her hair that she was related to the boy, and he knew she had come to take him back. He admired her courage, for it would take a woman of great bravery to face danger alone. In that moment Running Elk knew that he must have this woman. There would be trouble with the whites at the trading post, but the Blackfoot greatly outnumbered the whites. Yes, he would fight for her if he had to.
    “Take this woman to my tipi,” he said, nodding to one of his braves.
    Joanna was grabbed roughly by the arm and shoved none too gently inside the tipi. She landed hard on her stomach, and it took her a moment to catch her breath. She stood up slowly and walked over to the opening. When she tried to leave, an Indian blocked her path and motioned for her to remain inside the tipi.
    She now realized how foolhardy she had been to ride into the Indian camp alone. The Indians now had two captives. Where was Tag, and what were the Indians planning to do with her? she wondered. Joanna tried not to think of all the stories she had heard about white women who had been captured by the Indians.
    Sitting down, she buried her face in her hands. She had not rescued Tag, but had become a prisoner herself. Surely Simon and Captain Thatcher would come for her and Tag. But what could they do? They would be badly outnumbered. If only she could see Tag and know that he had not been harmed.
    Gray Fox had seen the white girl as she was being led into camp by Running Elk’s warriors, and recognized her as the girl Windhawk had told him about. He knew that Windhawkwould not be well pleased that the girl was being held captive by Running Elk.
    “What will you do with the white girl, Running Elk?” Gray Fox demanded.
    “She is mine. I will keep her.”
    “Windhawk will be angry if you harm this girl. She is the sister of the boy he pulled from the river,” Gray Fox threatened.
    “She belongs to me. My warriors took her.”
    “I would reconsider if I were you. It is not wise to defy Windhawk.”
    Running Elk knew that Gray Fox spoke the truth. Only a foolish man would go against Windhawk. There would be another time to take the girl. Soon Windhawk would return to his lands, and then no one would stand in his way. It did not please him that he must back down in front