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nudged Hannah with his toe. “Are you hurt?”
    Hannah glowered at him. “Why should you care? I never saw such vicious women. Will they be back?”
    “They will not return. You didn’t answer me. Where are you hurt?”
    ”I—my ribs. The women derived great pleas ure from jabbing me with sharp sticks.”
    “They will not hurt you again.” He turned to reenter his tepee. He was filthy and wished to go down to the river and bathe. And he was so hungry his ribs were touching his backbone.
    “Wind Rider! My brother told me you had returned. Are you recovered from your wound?” The woman who spoke carried a kettle and offered it to Wind Rider. “I thought you might be hungry after your long journey.”
    Wind Rider turned, saw Spotted Doe ap proaching, and smiled. Though not as modest and retiring as Cheyenne maidens, Spotted Doe, an exceptionally pretty young Sioux woman, gave every indication that she favored him above other men. She was sister to Cut Nose.
    “I am well, Spotted Doe. Thank you for the food. I am indeed hungry.”
    “You should have a woman to care for you and cook your meals,” she hinted slyly. Her bold smile indicated that she should be that woman. “If you’d like I’ll tend to your wound.”
    “Perhaps later, Spotted Doe, after I bathe and eat. But I assure you it is fine.” Wind Rider couldn’t get over the difference between shy Cheyenne maidens, who cherished their virginity, and bold Sioux women, who found no reason to abstain from sex if they found a man who pleased them. And if they were displeased with their man after marriage, they simply divorced him. All they need do was leave their mate’s tepee.
    Spotted Doe smiled enticingly. “I will return later.” Suddenly she spied Hannah, huddled against the pole to which she was bound. “So this is your slave.” She placed a finger to her nose. “She stinks. Cut Nose said she was an ugly, pitiable creature and my brother did not lie. What are you going to do with her?”
    Hannah stared at the beautiful Indian maid en, aware of her contempt and loathing. The woman’s large, doelike eyes held no hint of compassion, no spark of kindness. The only time they softened was when she looked at Wind Rider. Was she Wind Rider’s woman? Hannah wondered dimly.
    “She is my slave and will do whatever I tell her,” Wind Rider said. “Women’s work is dif ficult; she will not be idle.”
    Spotted Doe’s eyes narrowed. “I am glad she is ugly. If she was beautiful, you might be tempted to take her to your blankets.”
    “The woman is a whore, accustomed to bed ding many men. But fear not, Spotted Doe, I have no intention of bedding my slave. Little Sparrow does not appeal to me.”
    Wind Rider had no reason to believe he would soon wish back his words.
     
     

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Hannah sagged against the pole to which she was bound, glad to see the last of the lovely Sioux maiden. The girl’s dark, glowering looks gave mute evidence to the scathing contempt she felt for the white female slave Wind Rid er had captured. Had the maiden considered Hannah a threat for the affection of Wind Rider, Hannah had no doubt she would have found a way to eliminate the threat. Hannah thanked God the maiden considered her unworthy of the attention of a mighty warrior like Wind Rider. Wind Rider watched the seductive sway of Spotted Doe’s hips as she walked away. He hadn’t had a woman in a long time, and he wondered if the Sioux maiden would lie with him. He briefly considered visiting one of the camp whores, or a widow known to accommodate young warriors, but somehow the idea did not appeal to him. He glanced at Hannah, recalling how she had looked with her body free of filth and her hair gloriously clean and shining. His body hardened, envisioning the copper-hued forest cresting her woman’s mound. He wondered how it would feel to thrust his mighty rod into the tight warmth of her sheath. He scowled fiercely, sickened by the thought of the