Chapter One

Staggering, Victoria managed to stand. She heard the sound of leaves being crushed underfoot, and then they were upon her. Chills ran down her spine. Her face grew flushed. Hands grabbed her, and her voice froze. She couldn’t scream.

“I will have her,” one Indian spoke.

Victoria recognized the language. Standing Oak, as well as Running Wolf, had taught her Cherokee. Once childhood friends, now one professed to love her, and one had just assaulted her. She did not acknowledge to these braves that she understood their language.

“Leave her be,” another shouted. “I will take her and give her to our chief then he will bestow honors.”

“Do what you will,” the first one spoke. “Let us leave before the Iroquois come our way.”

The second one took some rawhide string and tied her hands, briskly pulling her toward him. “Come, we must climb.”

The young Indian pulled harder when Victoria, her body aching, failed to keep up with him. The pain Running Wolf had inflicted upon her caused much hurt. She felt bruised inside and out. She had gone to him against Standing Oak’s advice. Gone to him to profess her love and her desire to be his wife. But he was only interested in possessing her. The physical pain would soon subside, but the memory would always be there. His strength had been great on her tiny body. No matter how much she may have displayed great stamina while they were growing up, she was still like a spindly pine compared to the two full-grown men.

Oh, mother, you said the first time with the right man would be pleasurable. That it would only slightly hurt then I would feel no more pain. I wish you were here now. I feel so ashamed. Daddy was right. I should have listened to him and to Standing Oak. Running Wolf has changed.

They stopped at the top of the hill. The young Indian gently eased her to the ground to sit. He offered some water which she took and greedily drank. He tilted her face, then gazed into her eyes. “Perhaps I should keep you for myself and not give you to my chief as a gift. Are you hurt?” He offered sympathetic words.

She exchanged a glance with him, not knowing how to answer. “Are you hurt?”

This time she shook her head. Twigs broke nearby them. Was it Running Wolf? These might be his braves.  He may regret his cruel behavior and want her as a wife after all.

The young Indian hastily jerked her to her feet. “Rise, our Chief approaches.”

Victoria didn’t raise her head. The rawhide hurt her hands.

“Chief, I bring you a gift.”

“You found her. Do you not wish to keep her for yourself,” the chief spoke boldly.

Cold hands of shame clutched at Victoria’s throat at the familiar voice.

“I would like for you to have her. We came upon her in the woods. Her attire is torn and she appears to be hurt, but she will not speak.”

Standing Oak lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Standing Oak,” Tears hazed in her eyes. This man wanted her as his wife, but she’d denied him.

“Yes.”

“I am sorry I didn’t listen to you,” she said.

“Are you badly hurt?”

“Not by your men.”

“But by Running Wolf?” he questioned.

“How do you know?”

“Did I not tell you how he would treat you?”

She lowered her head again.

“I did all I could to stop you. Interference would set a great war upon our tribes. My people look to me for safety and guidance. They trust in me.”

“What will you do with me?” she asked solemnly.

“You can go with the young Indian who found you, or you can be given to me as a gift from him. I will permit you to make your choice.”

Her eyes swept to the young brave, more like a young boy. “I feel I will be in safer hands with you, Standing Oak.”

“You realize that if you come with me, you will be my slave only. I can never make you my wife now, Victoria Rilley.”

“But you do love me. I will be safe with you.”

“You are a wise woman.”

“Yet earlier you called me young and foolish.”

“This day you learned a lesson. Trusting me would have prevented this. But I must save face amongst my people. I cannot take you as my wife now. You should belong to Running Wolf.”

She swallowed tightly as the lump constricted in her throat. “I’m truly sorry, Standing Oak. Truly sorry. I cannot apologize enough.” She fell to her knees in front of him.

“Hand me some more rawhide string.” He spoke in Cherokee. His braves would not understand English. “Stand,” he said gathering a hold of her shoulders. “I wanted to be the first man to pleasure you, Victoria Rilley. I wanted you to choose me. Now you can only be seen as a slave to me. You will do as I say or I’ll give you to this young brave to do as he sees fit. We’re no longer the young children who grew up together. Our lives have changed. We are grown. Do you understand?”

The lump in her throat grew tighter, practically blocking her breathing. “Yes, Standing Oak. If you could ever find it in your heart to forgive my foolhardiness.”

His hands trembled a little when he grabbed hold of the reins of the rawhide. “We must walk now. When I say you will be my slave, Victoria Rilley, I mean it in every sense of the word. But now instead of sharing love with a wife, I will have to share it with a slave girl. I can never confess my love to my people. It would show weakness to love you, even if I do.”

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