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They pulled at her hair, tightening it and she gasped again.
"You will be silent woman, if you want to live."
She nodded, as fear struck at her.
The Indians made some noises in their throat and ransacked the small cabin, then drug her out of the cabin by the hair. Eve prayed for the man on the ridge that he had not been killed and that he might save her. However, there was no sign of him. He was gone!
Noises echoed throughout the forest as the Indians seemed to drag her for miles and her head began to pound. She winced from the pain as she tried to keep Jane Ann in her sites. Where were they taking her? Would they kill her and Jane Ann?
"Where are you taking me…what do you want…" she cried out.
The Indian jerked her by the arm now and made her walk. Tied by the neck with a rope, she walked between the two of them. Jane Ann was just ahead of her and screaming for her. Eve felt tears run down her cheek but she didn't speak, terrified they might suddenly decide to kill her or her child.
When they had walked miles and Eve could hardly stand any longer, they stopped and made camp along the river. She didn't dare look at her feet; they were probably bleeding, as she had stepped on every rock in her path.
Suddenly Eve stiffened and cried out. "Oh my God…Matthew?"
Taken by surprise as she had been, she had somehow blocked him out of her mind. Had they killed him, or had he escaped. Tears ran down her cheeks and she cried aloud now.
Jane Ann was given back to her as they made their supper.
The tears wouldn't stop. She couldn't lose Matthew! Eve held Jane Ann trying to comfort her, but Jane Ann was terrified and she cried in her mother's arms.
"We must be quiet now darling…we must try to stay calm. Will you try to be a big girl for Mama?" she asked.
Jane Ann's bottom lip trembled. She nodded.
"Good girl…." Eve sighed wearily as she saw the blood on her feet. She covered them with the hem of her dress. One day and they were bleeding. If the Indians hadn't knocked her shoes off her feet, she might get through this. She had no idea where they were taking her.
Rocking Jane Ann to sleep, she prayed someone would rescue her, for surely her fate was sealed, if they didn't. Hers and her child. They would die; she was sure of it, and what of Matthew? Her heart beat quickened.
No telling what might have happened to Matthew.
Worry filled her as she clutched her daughter tightly to her.
Chapter Two
Matthew caught two catfish and making a stringer he placed them in the river and continued to fish for supper. However, he'd forgotten the time. The fishing had been good and he knew his mother would be proud of him. Thoughts of his mother brought his head up. The sun was way over the tops of the trees. He needed to leave now. He was about to pack it in when a hand reached over his mouth and covered it.
He tried to scream but it was useless.
"Be silent my young friend…" A deep voice from behind him whispered in his ear.
Matthew nodded.
"Good, you are wise for one so young," The man behind him released him and turned him to look at him.
"Who—who are you?" Matthew asked, his eyes going over the man with curious intent, and yet almost recognizing him. "I know…you're the man that watches over us…from the ridge…."
"That's right, my name is Red Hawk." He said and smiled at the boy.
"Red Hawk? Kind of a strange name." Matthew's face screwed up into a frown.
"You may call me Hawk, that's easier. I've come to keep you safe and find your mother and baby sister."
"Find them? They are at home!"
Matthew glanced at his clothes and the big knife tucked into a scabbard at his waist, the bow and arrows on his shoulder, the breechcloth at his waist and the vest he wore open, with many beads and feathers around his neck.
