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“You are the panther señorita,” he said, a white flash of teeth showing when he smiled at her.
“Yes, I was,” she murmured, yet puzzled that he showed more attention to her, than to the ailing son of his general.
Then one of the guards returned to Fire Thunder. “Capitan, you can explain what happened to General Rocendo,” he said, the other guard opening the gate. “I will ride ahead and tell him that you are coming.” He untied the reins that secured his horse to a hitching rail, then mounted and rode into the courtyard.
Fire Thunder rode through the gate and stiffened when he saw General Rocendo step out onto the porch of his huge, widespread villa. He was shirtless. His hair was mussed, as though he had just left his bed.
Fire Thunder watched the general’s expression as the guard explained why Fire Thunder was there, and about the general’s son not being well.
General Rocendo left the porch in his bare feet and met Fire Thunder’s approach.
Fire Thunder dismounted and shook the general’s hand, then walked with him back to the wagon, where Pedro was just awakening.
“And, Capitan, how did this happen to my son?” the general growled out, toying with his thick, black mustache as he slowly looked up at Kaylene. “And Jose told me that the panther lady from the carnival is the one on whose lap my son’s head lies. Señorita, I missed your performance when your carnival was here. I hope to one day see you ride the panther.” His eyebrows forked. “But what are you doing away from your people? I do not understand.”
Again Kaylene was amazed at how little anyone seemed disturbed by Pedro’s illness. She was in the limelight, which unnerved her.
“She is soon to be my wife,” Fire Thunder said, intervening. “Now, General Rocendo, about your son. I apologize for the carelessness of one of my Kickapoo young women. She tattooed your son’s leg with the juice of poison ivy. He had a bad reaction. But he is much better than he was last night.”
“A tattoo?” General Rocendo said, leaning over the side of the wagon, inspecting his son’s leg. He looked up at Pedro who was watching him guardedly. “Pedro, did I not tell you that sneaking around with Kickapoo señoritas could get you into trouble?” he chuckled. “I never expected it to be this sort of trouble. I would have thought it might be more like you coming to me with a complaint that a beautiful Indian señorita was heavy with child . . . yours.”
“Father, do not blame Running Fawn for any of this,” Pedro managed weakly. He looked with panic
at Fire Thunder. “Capitan Fire Thunder, do not punish Running Fawn. This was all in fun. It just got out of hand.”
“It is good to see that you are well enough to talk, but what you say is wasted breath about Running Fawn,” Fire Thunder said tersely. He glowered at the general. “And do you not recall my having come to you, asking you to talk to your young men about coming and sneaking around with our Kickapoo girls? We need to work together on problems like this or things like what happened yesterday to Pedro might happen again.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I do not take lightly to how you find even the thought of one of our young women becoming heavy with child from trysts with your young men amusing.”
General Rocendo toyed with his mustache for a moment as he gazed intently up at Fire Thunder, being much shorter than the Kickapoo chief. “Capitan, if you must know,” he then said, much more seriously, “I did warn my son and his friends not to come anywhere near your village or your señoritas. It seems they do not have ears that hear too well. When my son did not return home last night, I did not think that he would be with any of your girls. I thought he might be spending the night with women from our brothels. I have grown accustomed to my son’s adventures with the local señoras, so often staying the night with them.”
“Your son is young,” Fire Thunder challenged. “How can you approve of him bedding up with women of your village as though he were a man?”
General Rocendo’s shoulders tightened. He glared up at Fire Thunder. “Capitan, do not speak of my son in such a way, or how I choose to raise him,” he spat out. “I admire a son whose prowess is so well developed at his young age. I see my son being with older women at the brothels as a way to make a true man out of him!”
The general turned glaring eyes to Pedro. “I cannot be angry at the Kickapoo girl who administered the near fatal poison to my son’s leg, as I must apologize for a son who goes behind his father’s back to do as he was told not to, for I did tell him to bed Mexican señoras, while he is practicing to be a man!” he said, his voice drawn and icy.
General Rocendo then reached toward Pedro and clasped one of his arms. “Leave the wagon, Pedro,” he said tightly. “Now. And do not whine about not being strong enough. You chose to behave like a man. Act like one.”
Kaylene paled. “But, sir, he—”
“This is my son,” the general hissed, sending a glare Kaylene’s way. “I make decisions for him. Not a panther lady señorita. He has humiliated me enough by what he has done, let alone now, by lying his head like a child on the lap of a woman!”
“Father, I do not believe I have the strength,” Pedro said, groaning as he tried to raise himself to a sitting position. He cried out when he put his full weight on his leg. “My leg! Father, I cannot stand on my leg!”
General Rocendo’s eyes wavered. He turned and beckoned to his guard, Jose. “Jose, come and get Pedro,” he shouted.
Kaylene breathed more easily as she saw the more tender side of the general surface. She gave Pedro a hug, then sat back from him as Jose came and gently took him into his arms.
“Capitan Fire Thunder,” General Rocendo said, clasping his hands together behind him, “my son and his friends will never interfere in the lives of the Kickapoo again. You have my word. They will stay in the perimeters of their city, or pay for their disobedience.”
“As far as Running Fawn and her three friends are concerned, it is too late now for such promises,” Fire Thunder said tightly. “The girls’ reputations are already ruined. They will be exiled from my village! And I forbid them to come here, to be a part of the lives of Mexicans, the very people who have caused their shame.”
Kaylene was stunned to hear this. Fire Thunder had ignored her pleas. Running Fawn and her friends were going to pay the full price for their sins after all.
Kaylene so badly wanted to understand. People made mistakes. They learned from their mistakes! She couldn’t understand why Fire Thunder couldn’t give these girls a second chance.
Pedro paled when he heard what Fire Thunder had planned for Running Fawn. “No!” he cried. “Do not banish her. But if you must, do not keep her from coming to me. Although we are only children in your eyes, we are in love. I want to marry her!”
“Running Fawn and her friends’ punishments must be real,” Fire Thunder growled. “It must be truly felt. You will never see Running Fawn again!”
