Bill Dugan_War Chiefs 04 Read Online Free Page A

her curiosity. In her heart, she understood, like Nocona, that things were changing. Unlike her husband, who imagined some all-consuming confrontation that would leave all the whites or, far more likely, all the Comanche, to rot in the sun, she hoped that some sort of accommodation was possible. But deep inside, deeper than she was able to go, she knew it wasn’t possible. There was too much hatred, and too much greed. Even for the land that most whites called a desert, the trackless plains of the Llano Estacado, there was too much white greed.
    Ducking through the far branches of the willow, she slipped back into the moonlight and climbed up onto the rocks, easing in a crouch over the rough stone until she could stare down into the river. The dog, suddenly attached to her, followed her out, stood for a moment until she ruffled the fur on its neck with an idle hand, then curled into a ball and lay down just out of reach.
    It was so quiet, she could hear her own heart beating if she listened. She could see part of thevillage now, at the far end, where the river curved to the south. The near end was hidden completely by the willows. The stillness seemed to squeeze her like a giant fist, and she felt frightened for the first time, as if the thickening air meant to do her harm.
    Shuddering, she wrapped her arms about her, feeling a sudden chill. She glanced at the willows, but the branches were motionless in the still air. The river continued on, its surface undisturbed. Looking toward the village, she caught a glimpse of something, movement perhaps, she wasn’t sure, out beyond the last tipi. She was not the only one who had difficulty sleeping, she thought.
    She got to her feet, still staring at the end of the camp, hoping to catch another glimpse of whoever it was who felt the urge to get out into the quiet and the dark. The dog, too, seemed to sense something, and got to its feet, its tail down and motionless. It woofed once, then took a couple of tentative steps toward her, as if for protection.
    She saw the movement again, a quick darting of shadow barely outlined against the grass beyond the village end. Then another, and a third. These were not movements of a single shadow, she thought. Three shadows, maybe more, but who …
    She started to run then, dashing off the rocks and turning an ankle. She nearly fell, but managed to keep her balance as she swept throughthe willow branches and into the shade. Her feet were silent on the soft mulch of willow leaves. Reaching the far side, she carved a hole through the overhang and peered intently. She could see the near end of the village now. Three dogs got to their feet and headed toward her. One fell to its stomach almost immediately. The other two stopped, turning to the fallen dog as if to see why it had stopped.
    She could hear a whimper now, but wasn’t sure whether it came from the fallen dog or one of the others. About to step through the willow curtain, she pulled the branches aside then stopped, one foot poised in the air. More shadows, these moving furtively, darted toward the tipis from her right, dashing out of the meadow behind the village then disappearing into the tall grass.
    Instinctively, she let the branches fall back to shield her. Something awful was about to happen, but she didn’t know what. She wanted to shout, but knew that the shadows would silence her before anyone heard. Moving quickly now, she went back the way she’d come, scrambling back onto the boulders and out over the water.
    On her knees, she turned her back to the water and let herself down over the sheer face of the rock until she felt the cool water around her ankles. Letting go, she plunged in up to her neck with a splash that seemed like thunder to her. Holding her breath, she waited for some indication that her entry had been heard and, when shewas sure that it had gone unnoticed, she pushed out away from the rock, floating on her back.
    Stroking quietly, she pulled herself away from