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“What . . . final . . . act?” he gulped, his eyes pleading with Thunder Horse. “What are you going to do with me . . . and again . . . why? Why are you so angry?”
“One of the outlaws who attacked my people was killed,” Thunder Horse said thickly. “The others left the fallen white man behind. He had enough breath in him to tell us who came and killed today, and by whose orders.”
Thunder Horse leaned into Reginald’s face. “You are the one who sent the outlaws into my village,” he said tightly. “You even thought Jessie would be killed, too, didn’t you? You hate her so much that you would want her dead!”
Jessie paled. She hadn’t even thought about that . . . that Reginald had wanted her to die in the midst of the massacre!
“Oh, Reggie,” she cried, covering her mouth with a hand.
“I told you never to call me Reggie again!” he shouted. “And, yes, I wanted you to die! You went against your own blood kin by taking sides with Injuns. You’
re no better than those savages, Jessie.” He grimaced as his eyes moved over her. “You are even dressed like one.”
He frowned at her again. “You make me want to vomit,” he said, visibly shuddering. “My own flesh and blood.”
Jessie didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say, for this man standing before her surely wasn’t blood kin to her. He was nothing but a villain!
She slowly shook her head, then stepped farther away when Thunder Horse grabbed Reginald by the throat and forced him to the cave entrance.
“What . . . are . . . you doing?” Reginald shrieked, his eyes wild.
Thunder Horse purposely knocked Reginald’s glasses off. “You will need those no longer,” he said, grinding the heel of his moccasin into the glasses.
“No!” Reginald cried. “I can’t see a thing now. Why? Why would you do that?”
“Where you are going you will not need eyes,” Thunder Horse said flatly.
“What . . . do . . . you mean?” Reginald gulped out, squinting as he tried to see Thunder Horse’s face.
“You will soon understand,” Thunder Horse said.
“Please tell me what you’re going to do,” Reginald cried, tears pouring from his eyes. “I’m sorry for everything I did. Please forgive me. I promise never to cause you trouble again.”
“It is too late for words, especially words that are empty and mean nothing,” Thunder Horse said. He glared into Reginald’s eyes. “In the world of the Sioux, it is said that whatever a man steals in this world, he will be compelled to carry into the next. In other words, you, who are a notorious thief in the eyes of the Sioux, will have a heavy load to carry in the after-world. Your load will be heavier than that of most criminals, for you are responsible for so many wrongful deeds against my people.”
“Oh, Lord, no,” Reginald said, then cried out in a strangled voice when Thunder Horse took him by the arm and pulled him into the cave.
“Here you will stay for eternity,” Thunder Horse said, giving Reginald a shove and causing him to fall to his knees.
“Lord, no, you can’t do this!” Reginald whimpered, scrambling to his feet.
He tried to leave the cave, but Thunder Horse hurriedly ordered his warriors to help him roll the huge boulder in place, stopping Reginald, but not his screams for mercy. His muffled cries could still be heard even after the cave entrance was completely blocked.
Jessie was shocked by what was happening, yet understood why Thunder Horse had chosen to avenge his people’s deaths in such a way.
It would be the worst possible death for Reginald, to be entombed forever among the spirits of the Sioux whom he had wronged.
A strange sort of silence emanated from the other side of the boulder, then a sudden bloodcurdling cry . . . and again silence.
Jessie looked quickly at Thunder Horse.
He gazed into her eyes. “It is over, finally over,” he said thickly. “Reginald Vineyard will never again work his evil against anyone.”
He raised his face to the sky, and his voice seemed to reach beyond the clouds as he cried, “It is done!”
Jessie was still numb from what had happened. She didn’t ask what had transpired inside the cave. She didn’t want to know.
They all mounted their steeds and left the cave, Jessie riding beside Thunder Horse.
