"I have seen," Lone Wolf nodded. "But she is not part of them. She is no blue coat. She belongs to me. She is my woman."
"Your woman, you would take a white woman? Dirty Arapahos." One of the Indians spat at him. "Where do you come from?" The biggest Indian asked, holding Hannah captive with a knife at her throat.
"We are Arapaho, we live in Indian Territory."
"On reservations?" The Indian spat. "I should have known, only cowards surrender to the reservations."
"Yes, we are at peace with the whites."
"You are dogs, cowards. I spit on you. Tie them up, and tie her to the post outside, remove her clothes where she can slowly freeze to death, take her blanket from her. Strip her naked, so she will freeze faster."
"Do not do this," Lone Wolf hissed.
"You want to join her?" The Indian came closer.
"I will kill you for hurting her," Lone Wolf spat.
"If she is that good, perhaps I should take her myself," The Indian stared into his face with a sneer.
"I will fight you for her," Lone Wolf offered.
The Indian stared, "You would fight for a white woman? What is she to you?"
"She is brave, strong, and beautiful."
The Indian glanced at her. "Fair enough. And when I win and lay my hands upon her, I will think of you in death."
The other two Indians shook their heads, "No, tie him up and let him watch her die…"
"No, he wants to fight. We will fight. I can take him. He is a dog, and I can kill a dog easily."
"What of this one?" one of them asked as he came up to Black Feather with lust in his eyes.
"She can cook for us, we'll take care of her when we leave. But first, I will kill this one."
"I want this one myself, the Arapaho are beautiful people."
"Later, we have business with a dog."
They tied Deer Runner up, but he was able to whisper something to Black Feather. She barely nodded but her eyes told him she heard him.
"Fix us something to eat, woman." The Indian that was close to her told her.
She did as they ask.
Hannah was taken outside and strung up on a pole then they brought brush and twigs to begin a fire. They pulled the blankets and hides from her, leaving her in her deerskin dress. She began to shiver uncontrollably. She felt her limbs begin to ache, and then she felt nothing. Her lips felt numb, and she closed her eyes, resigned to die here.
The Big Indian looked at her legs, as his knife brought her short dress up more.
"Leave her be, fight me for her." Lone Wolf hollered at them.
"I should take her now, then fight you for her. She is beautiful as you say."
The big Indian challenged Lone Wolf, "Now dog, let's see you win your woman."
Lone Wolf looked at the other two, "Will you turn her lose if I win?"
The two looked at each other and nodded.