outlaw

Hi everyone! Here I am again! And here’s another chapter to Outlaw! I really didn’t think this thing would be so popular! Thanks to all of you who have reviewed and read this story! *bows to all readers* Thank you!!!!

 
 
Outlaw

chapter 3

 

Hilde opened the door and looked into the face of Chief Running bear.
“Hello, Chief. How can I help you, this morning? She asked him as she turned back to he inside of the house. “I don’t even have any coffee on, chief.”
He waved his hand and said, “No need. Did you find our gift?”
She looked at him and nodded. “Yes.”
“My son followed him and brought him to you. Singing Bird thought you would appreciate his looks.”
Hilde blushed as she looked at the tall Indian standing in front of her. His wife knew her too well.
“Hmm, I thought as much.”
“Chief!”
He chuckled and crossed his arms. “We need to barrow your hired man.”
He glanced over at Heero, who was standing in the door way with a shotgun.
Hilde smiled. “I don’t think he trusts you.”
The big man shrugged, “I still need him.”
“Take him, He was just going to run off to his girlfriend’s, anyway.”
The chief turned to looked at Heero, who slightly nodded and disappeared into his little house.
Hilde shook her head as she watched him disappear in to his house. She turned as she heard the click of a hammer of a gun.
Duo Maxwell stood, unsteadily in the center of the room, wrapped in a blanket, pointing the gun, uncertainly at the Indian standing in the door.
Hilde stepped toward him as the gun slipped from his fingers, and his eyes rolled back into his head. She ran to catch him as his knees buckled. She lowered him to the floor slowly, and shook her head.
“ Good God in Heaven! Why is it all these men think I need protecting??? Damn fools! Do I look helpless?” She asked as she looked up at the Chief.
He chuckled and reached down to pick the unconscious man from her arms.
“Where?”
She pointed to the bedroom he was in to beginh. Hh. He carried him and laid him gently on the bed. “It seems he has began to bleed.”
Hilde sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll tend to him. Thank you so much, Chief.”
He nodded, “I would do anything thing for you , shaman. We have no one since our medicine man went to the great spirit. You have saved many of us and will continue to do so.”
She nodded, “Yes as long as I can.”
“We will continue to protect you.”
“Thank you.”
“I shall return in 3 days with your hired man.”
Hilde smiled, “No, just you return. Send him to his woman.”
The Chief nodded and left her to the man lying in front of her. “Damn fool.” She pulled back his wrappings and redressed the wound. She listened as the horses pounded out of the yard. She sighed and coved Duo back up. She took one last look at him as she left the room.

Hilde placed a pot on the stove and stoked the fire up, waiting till it was a large flame, then closed the door. She went to he door and stood looking at the sky. The fall rains had started too early and the locust were singing day and night. The trees were starting to turn. It was too soon. All the signs showed snow in September. It was late august so she still had time to get things ready. Winter was coming and it was going to be a hard one. She had many things to prepare. She knew in a couple of weeks she would find a buffalo hind on her front step, cured and ready for winter storage. She smiled it was the same every year. She went to her trunk and dug several blankets from it. She took them to the porch and placed them there. The Chief would take them in payment for the meat. She checked her stores and made a list of things she would need before winter set in. She smiled as she thought about getting canned peaches. They were a good treat in the dead of winter. She finished her list and checked her water. Hilde frowned as she heard a cough.
“Damn it. That’s all we need.” She mumbled as she turned to her medicine cupboard. She rummaged through it until she found the herbs she was looking for. She checked the pot of water and found it was boiling. After she dumped them into the water she made a mental note to go herb hunting in the afternoon. She stirred them and heard her patient cough again. She shook her head. She had to break this up, he didn’t need pneumonia. It could kill him and she didn’t want him to die. She rubbed the center of her chest, trying to get the tight, uncomfortable feeling to go away. She had never felt this feeling before and she didn’t know how to deal with it. She looked at the pan boiling in front of her. She grabbed a towel and pulled the pan from the heat. She poured the mixture into a cup and made her way back to the bedroom.
As she stepped into the room she saw him curled up with the blankets wrapped around him. She could see he was shivering. Hilde crossed the floor to the bed and quickly pulled off her boots. She tossed back the blankets and crawled in beside him. She pulled his body next to her and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him, tight.
His shivering stopped as he absorbed her body heat. She felt him move and his hand clasped hers. She felt him grip it and squeeze.
“Thank you.” He whispered.
“You’re welcome.” She whispered back. “Now try to sleep, I’ll stay here for a bit.”
Duo wrapped his arms around hers and closed his eyes. He sighed in contentment as he slipped into a warm peaceful sleep.
Hilde waited till he was sound asleep before she slipped from the bed and stoked up the stove. She watched it flame and start to kick out heat. She glanced back at the sleeping man and rubbed her chest again. What was this feeling?
The room warmed quickly and she checked him once more before she headed out. She picked up the cup and returned to her living room/ kitchen. She poured it back into the pan and pulled it off the stove. She placed in on her counter and went to find her herb gathering basket. She looked into the basket, making sure she had all her tools in it. She stood and went out the back door into the woods.
Hilde breathed in the fresh forest air as she looked for the herbs she needed. She thought about the injured young man laying in her bed. She wondered about his past and who would be cruel to whip him. She wondered if he was an outlaw or some one with a mistaken Identity.
She shrugged, the only way she would know is if she asked him. As she gathered the herbs she knew were in her woods she hummed a little. She loved living out in the wilderness like this. Alone or with someone it didn’t matter. She smiled , with some one would be good. Perhaps the man in her bed. As she picked up her basket she sighed. No point getting her hopes up. He would leave as soon as he was well.
Hilde walked back to the house with a slow pace, enjoying the late after noon. It had taken her all afternoon to find what she needed.
As she came closer she could hear horses milling around and men talking. As She stepped into the clearing , she stopped.
“Hello!” She called out. The men turned to look at her.
“Can I help you?”
The man who looked like the appointed leader walked over to her.
“Treize Kushrinada. Where is the man that belongs to that horse?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, honestly. I found the horse in the yard a couple of days ago, rider less. And out here finders are keepers.”
He regarded her carefully as he asked the next question. “Can we look at the horse?”
“You haven’t already? It seems to me , you have already been in my barn.”
He stepped aside as she brushed past him and walked toward the barn. She set her basket down and pulled open the door.
“Mr. Kushrinada, Please be my guest.”
AS she went in she snagged the rifle she had left in there the other day. She held it close to her body as she slipped into the dimly lit barn. She lead them to the stall with the horse in it.
Kushrinada examined the horse and then looked at the saddle. Hilde had stepped back a bit into the shadows and adjusted her hold on the rifle. She watched him as he rummaged through the saddle bags.
He said in a quiet voice. “It’s not here.”
He turned to look at Hilde as he said the words. Hilde looked at him as she felt another man come behind her. She instantly reacted. She swung the but of the rifle toward his gut, Hitting him hard enough to lose his breath and drop to the ground, holding his gut. Then she tilted the rifle to Treize< pointing directly to him head.
“I suggest you get off my property at once. I have no qualms about killing anyone and no one would ever know or for matter care.”
“He belongs to me and so did the things in these bags.”
“Who? The man or the horse?
“Both.”
“The man’s not here. And the horse stays. Prove to me the horse is yours….. Bill of sale and you can take it.” She said to him, knowing she was taking a risk but still chancing it. “And this man is probably dead somewhere. This is Indian territory you know. They are not all friendly. I am here at my own risk. I get along well with them but they could kill me as to look at me.”
He raised his hands, “ Yes, I know but I’ve heard of you. The crazy woman in the wilderness. But I can’t prove the horse or the man are mine, the they are and I want them back.. But if you are hiding him. I’ll kill you”
Hilde ‘s eyes squinted as her finger tightened on the trigger. “Get out.” She said softly.
When he made a move toward her, she fired the rifle, splintering the beam behind him. It was so close to his face he felt the heat of the bullet as it flew past him.
“GET OUT!!!!” She shouted.
He raised his hands and backed away from her.
AS they mounted their horses, he turned to her and glared. She watched them ride out of her yard and said, softly, “Not If I kill you first.”
She hefted the rifle to her shoulder and leaned over to pick up her basket of herbs. She glared once more into the direction the men had rode off in, knowing they would be back. She looked to the sky and saw that it was starting to cloud over. She shook her head… More rain. Hilde set the rifle and the basket on the porch and would to her wood bin. She flipped it open and reached in, looking for some dryer logs. After she gathered a few she returned to the porch and went into the house. She set the logs down and gathered the items she lad left out side, including the blankets. She restoked the stove and the fireplace. Then she went to check on her patient.
He was sitting up as she entered the room.
“You’re really awake now. And keep your voice down, they still may be out there.”
He nodded as he spoke.
“Why didn’t you give me to them?”
“Why should I?”
“Why shouldn’t you? You owe me nothing. I am a wanted man.”
“Not here you aren’t and no one threatens me or tells me what to do. He pissed me off. He will never get you by my hand. If you wish to return to him on your own that is your choice, but under my roof you are safe.”
“You should have gave me to him. He’s dangerous.”
Hilde snorted, “ I live in Indian territory. I hardly fear a big mouth bully.”
Duo looked over to her, “I don’t want you to get hurt on account of me.”
“You don’t need to worry about me.” She said as she fingered the bandage on his shoulder, checking it. “Are you hungrery?”
He nodded and said, “Thank you. I don’t want to go back.”
“Good. Is he the one that whipped you?”
He looked down at the blanket, “I ….. I can’t tell you.”
Hilde smiled, “It’s ok, you don’t have to tell me. Only when you’re ready, Ok?” With that she stood and smiled. “I have some soup on the stove. Will that be ok?”
Duo nodded, looking at her.
Hilde stood, “Ok, I’ll be right back with it.”
She pulled the door shut and went to the cupboard and pulled out a bowl, pouring the soup into it. Hilde returned to the room carried the hot soup. She handed it to Duo and said, “Be careful, it’s hot.”
She smiled as she watched him eat it. In a few minutes it was empty and he held it out.
“Could I have more?” Duo asked as he held out the bowl.
“Sure. You must be feeling better.” She reached out and touched his forehead. It was slightly warm.
“I want to help you. Where are my clothes?”
I washed them but I think you should stay one more day in bed, then I can find you something to do.”
He frowned, “Wasn’t there some one else here, an other man? Your husband or boyfriend?”
Hilde laughed, “Yes , there is another man here, and no he is not my husband or boyfriend. He is my hired hand.”
“Sorry, I had to know if I was intruding.”
She smiled, “Not at all.”
Duo frowned. “Is he gone?”
“He went with the Chief. They‘ll be back in a couple of days.” Hilde stood and took the empty bowl, “More , right?”
He nodded. “Yes. You are a great cook.”
“Thanks.” She returned a moment later with another bowl. She watched him gulp down the food, then hand her back the bowl. He slid down into the blankets and covered back up.
Hilde made sure he was covered and started to leave.
“Where do you sleep?”
She smiled, “Don’t worry about me. I have a place. You rest. I have plenty of chores for you to do before winter sets in. and we still have to watch out for Mr. Kushrinada.”
“Thanks, Miss Hilde.”
“Good night, Mr. Maxwell.”
“Duo.”
“Ok, Duo, Call me just Hilde.”
She watched him nodded as his eyes drifted shut. She closed the door and returned to her living room. She placed the bowl on the counter to be rinsed later. She sat down in front of her fire with a blanket and a dime store romance novel. She opened it and started to read where she left off the day before.

Several hours later, Hilde jumped as someone screamed in agony. Still half asleep she staggered to find the rifle. A loud rumble of thunder drowned the next scream. It was then Hilde realized it was Duo in the other room. She dropped the rifle and hurried into the bedroom. She found him sitting up shivering and covered in sweat.
“What’s wrong, Duo?” She asked as she sat down on the bed next to him.
He grasped her and held on tight as he sobbed on to her shoulder.

 
To be continued….