The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,51

and her safety had suddenly been tossed up for grabs.

There was always the possibility that they’d be forced to make a run for it and if that happened, she wasn’t about to be leaving her precious possessions in the hands of heathens. Her movements were frantic as she began shuffling her belongings back into her bag.

The bag was small, and spilling the contents had rearranged the spare space until she was having trouble making it all fit back. But when her fingers slid across a small leather case, her pulse gave a kick.

Maybe… just maybe.

She yanked it from the bag then jumped to her feet.

“Joe! Wait!”

He frowned. What was she up to now? He’d been about to make his offer and she had messed up his speech.

“Girl—”

Warning was thick in his voice as Caitie bolted toward him with the small leather case in her fist.

“Look! They were belongin’ to me father. He was afflicted with bad eyesight as well. Maybe—”

Joe’s eyes narrowed. “I’d say give it a try. It beats fighting a blind man all to hell.”

As Caitie turned toward the little Indian, her conscience pricked. If a body wasn’t too picky about the details, he had sort of saved her life. There was no telling whether she would have survived a night on the prairie alone. If this gesture would set her free, it was the least that she could do.

“You! Eyes Like Mole.”

He turned toward the sound of her voice as Joe Redhawk began to translate Caitie’s words into their language.

“It’s time for me to be goin’,” Caitie said. “But before I do, I’ll be rewardin’ ye for your kindness and bravery. Ye saved me from drownin’, as well as gave me shelter and food.”

The Arapaho began to mutter among themselves. They had not known of Eyes Like Mole’s bravery in these things. They thought he’d simply stumbled over a lost woman and dragged her home behind his horse like a stolen calf.

Eyes Like Mole started to argue, but Caitie stopped him with a touch of her hand. “And because of yer kindness, I’m bringin’ great magic to ye.”

She opened the case and pulled out her father’s eyeglasses. The wire rims were old and worn, but the glass was still intact. When she unfolded the earpieces and extended her hands toward his face, he stepped back in fright.

Whatever Joe said seemed to calm the little man. Caitie proceeded again. And this time, he stood, bowing slightly as she slipped the glasses up his nose and settled the ear pieces behind his ears.

“You can be openin’ yer eyes now,” Caitie announced.

“Aaiiee!”

Eyes Like Mole’s cry was somewhere between a war whoop and a shout of pure joy. He began to run, darting from people to places, touching and feeling, seeing that which had eluded him all his life. His small brown eyes seemed huge beneath the prism of the lens, but for the first time, he was seeing the world in clear colors and shapes.

“Ye must be careful!” Caitie warned. “Or the magic will break!”

Joe translated again, and this time Eyes Like Mole nodded. Of course they could break. Magic could not last forever unless great care was taken.

To the amazement of those gathered, Eyes Like Mole stalked directly toward Chief Little Deer.

“I was wrong,” he announced grandly, speaking in English so that his woman could understand. “The spirits of my ancestors did send this woman to me, but not to take as wife. She brought great magic with her instead. She brought me eyes so that I would see.”

He looked at Caitie, then frowned and shook his head. “While she has given me a great magic, I do not think she would give me many fine sons. She is too small and has no hair.”

Joe laughed at the disgust on Caitie’s face. “Mount up while you’ve got your chance, girl, and quit fussing about the fact that he no longer wants you.”

Caitie did as she was told. Minutes later, they rode out of the Arapaho camp in a more dignified manner than that which she’d come in.

A coyote howled from the ridge beyond their fire. The sky was dark but clear. It was one of those nights that you could see forever. But Caitie O’Shea was not looking past the man who sat beside her. She was too intent upon making sure that certain rules stayed fast.

“I’ll be wantin’ to know, Joe Redhawk, why ye keep comin’ after the likes of me?”

Joe looked into the flames between them while