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He had no choice but to leave the other half embedded in the man’s flesh until he could get him back to Mystic Island, where his people’s shaman could then take over.
Suddenly the black man’s eyes slowly opened and looked directly into Wolf Dancer’s. He grabbed Wolf Dancer by the arm, his hand trembling.
“Mah name’s Joshua,” he managed to say between gasping breaths. “You should know…no Indian did this to me. It… it…was done by one of my massas. It…was…supposed to look likean Indian kill, when and if my body wuz…wuz…ever found.”
“You do not need to explain,” Wolf Dancer said gently. “You must save your energy. I will take you to my shaman. He will do what he can for you.”
Joshua’s hand tightened on Wolf Dancer’s arm. “Hiram…Price…is de one,” he said, his voice now almost a whisper, yet strong enough for Wolf Dancer to hear. “He’s de man that done left me fo’ dead in the river. I…was…lucky that I found a canoe. That canoe saved me from the clutches of death. Thank de Lord that you came along…and…cared enough to try and save me.”
Since he saw that Joshua was determined to continue talking, Wolf Dancer saw no wrong in questioning him.
“Why did the man you know as Hiram Price do this to you?” he asked. He watched the man’s eyes drift closed, and then suddenly open again.
“ ’Cause I witnessed my one massa kill de otha,” Joshua said. He swallowed hard. “Dey were brothas. One brotha killed the other brotha.”
“Why would a brother hate his brother enough to kill him?” Wolf Dancer asked, feeling the man’s hand weakening in his grip.
“ ’Cause de massa who killed de other wants not only all the Price Plantation, but also de woman…his brotha’s wife,” Joshua said, his voice now a shallow whisper. “Dat’s why. Hiram is a sinner in many ways. De Bible says to covet another man’s wife is very…very…sinful, but when Hiram killed fo’ her, he took one more step into hell today.”
Hearing the name of the plantation made Wolf Dancer know exactly which woman Joshua was making reference to.
He knew the name of the plantation where he had been watching the golden-haired beauty.
His scout had discovered the name of the place not long ago and had brought it to his chief’s attention.
He had been curious to observe the plantation today because it had only recently changed hands. He had wanted to see the new owners, to judge whether or not they were just people, and whether they represented a threat to his small band. Until today, he had not known enough about the new owners to make a judgment. But now that he knew one owner had used an arrow to kill his brother, Wolf Dancer realized that he was going to be dealing with people who would be working against the Seminole.
But the woman!
He envisioned even now the woman that Joshua was talking about…her long, golden hair, her violet eyes, her tininess, and her innocence.
“Sweet Lavinia no longer has a husband,” Joshua said, his eyes closing. “He was killed by his very own brotha.”
This news confirmed to Wolf Dancer that the woman was now alone. She no longer had a husband to protect her. And she was living in the same house as the man who had killed her husband.
Wolf Dancer was determined to find a way to know her and to protect her.
Yes, she must be saved from such a man as would kill his very own brother to have her!
“My name is Chief Wolf Dancer,” he said quickly, for Joshua looked as though he was ready to drift off again. “You are with a friend.”
Joshua’s eyes remained open long enough to meet the dark gaze of Wolf Dancer. Joshua knew now that he was in the company of the most elusive Seminole chief of all.
He also sensed that Wolf Dancer was a man of peace…a good and honorable man of integrity. He spoke gently and his words tugged at Joshua’s heart and inspired his spirit. He had heard that Wolf Dancer was very smart and could match wits with any white man.
Joshua believed that Wolf Dancer would find a way to make wrongs right for Lavinia, as well as for Joshua’s own family…his wife Lorna…his daughter Twila.
Joshua could not help believing that he would have been dead if this kind Indian had not come upon him floating in the river in the canoe, and was doing what he could to save his life.
Also he would not believe that the good Lord would allow him to die, not when he had a wife and daughter to look after.
Yes, Joshua did believe the good Lord above would keep him alive so that he could be with his wife and child again.
They needed him.
He…needed…them.
Just the thought of his Twila and Lorna brought him a feeling of gentle peace. He carried them with him always, in his heart.
