Love On The Frontier (A Bounty Hunter's Tale) Book I

Chapter Twenty - Five | Pia

'Family'

Texas 1873

The entire morning Clayton regreted the intimacy that took place last night. Even more so with the way Lena looked now looked at him. One look in her eyes and knew that she was more in love with him than she had been before. Clayton did not say much to her while they had readied for travel. He did not know how to tell her that what had transpired between the two of them was a mistake that must never be repeated. Of coursed it would hurt her initially, but when they parted ways the pain would eventually subside. 

Soon they were back on their horses and riding along the Texas plains. The weather was cooler and all so familiar to Clayton.  "What was it like growing up with the Indians?" Lena asked.

He shrugged. "Taught me how to survive with little to nothin'. Many other valuable lessons, too. Lesson's about life." 

Lena picked up on the feeling that he did want to be bothered. He had been short with her since she had awoke. Last night was everything she had hoped it would be and more. He was gentle and took his time making her feel comfortable before he sent her through an intense series of pleasures. However, now he was standoffish. For the life of her Lena could not understand him. Lena began to think that she had done something wrong. Maybe he just wanted her that one time and never again. 

"So...erm. . .tomorrow's my birthday," Lena said after a prolonged silence. They dipped into the trees.

"Look, Lena," Clayton pulled Buck to a halt. It was now or never. "Last night. . .was a mist--" Suddenly Clayton heard something move around in the forest. He looked around at the trees. 

"What is it? Did you hear some--"

"Shhh," Clayton hushed her. "We're not alone."

Surely they would have seen someone lurking by now. Lena squinted as she looked around the forest once more. Still she did not see anything just like she had not heard anything. "Clayton, I don't--"

"Lena. Didn't I just say to be qui--" An arrow flew past his head, barely missing his ear, and embedded in the tree nearest him. "Shit." Another arrow flew through the air and lodged into his shoulder, knocking him off of Buck. 

Buck neighed and reared back as several Indians rushed out of the woods, each armed with a weapon of some kind. They shouted as they circled the two them. Clayton immediately recognized their language. They were Comanche. However, he did not know a single one of them.

They pulled Clayton up off the ground and yanked Lena off of her horse. It took a several minutes for them to calm Buck down as he tried to defend Clayton. An Indian shoved Clayton and Lena to their knees.

"Clayton! What do we do!?" Lena cried as she feared for her life.

"Just obey," Clayton said calmly. He winced as a tomahawk was pressed up against his throat. He cursed when a man ripped out the arrow from Clayton's shoulder. It hurt worse than the knife he had taken to the stomach. "They're gonna take us to their chiefs."

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They led them through the woods and down a valley where their Native village settled. The villagers curiously watched them walk by. They were then led into a large tepee where four chiefs had sat. Each of them elderly and wearing the traditional clothing for Comanche chiefs. Lena was in the middle of a panic attack. 

Clayton was not truly worried nor fearful. As long as he remained calm he may be able to think of a way out of this--or maybe not. From what he gathered, they intend to kill him and keep Lena as a slave. Now that was cause to worry.