Silken Savage (40 page)

Adam smiled. “How wise you have become in the ways of life, my woman.”

“I have learned well from your people;
our
people,” she corrected. “They have taught me much about patience and mystery, and the futility of trying to fight against things over which I have no power.”

“You have much power over me,” he breathed, as his lips touched hers, “yet you do not fight me.”

“That is because you have greater power over me,” she responded on a whisper. “You hold my heart forever captive.”

TANYA THOROUGHLY enjoyed every minute of her ten-day stay at the ranch, though there were a couple of disturbing moments. Being with Adam during the day and enclosed in his warm embrace each night, was heavenly. Here, there was no one constantly peering over her shoulder to make sure she was behaving properly, and it was relaxing to be free of Jeffrey’s irritating presence and sudden appearances.

Julie had little time to oversee her sister’s behavior, for she had her hands full fending off a very determined Roberto. Undaunted by Julie’s rejections and sharp tongue, he delighted in teasing her, laughing heartily when he roused her temper.

“Ah, my prickly little cactus,” he chuckled. “When are you going to pull in your sharp needles?”

“Never!” Julie assured him adamantly, her lower lip protruding in a pout.

“Do you know how alluring you are when you are angry, my pet?” Roberto asked with a broad grin, his white teeth flashing. “Your lips beg to be kissed, especially that lower one you are constantly thrusting at me. I believe you are teasing me to arouse my desire even more.”

Julie stamped her foot angrily. “How conceited you are! How many times do I have to tell you that I’m interested in another man? Have you no pride?”

Robert’s dark eyes gleamed. “Pride has nothing to do with it. Is this other man your lover?”

“Of course not! What kind of woman do you take me for?” Julie exclaimed.

Roberto’s smile widened. “Are you betrothed to him?” he persisted.

Julie hesitated a fraction too long before she replied, “No, not yet.”

“Then there is no reason why I should cease to pursue you, is there, my dove?”

Before Julie fully realized his intentions, Roberto swept her into his embrace, his dark eyes searing hers for just a second before his mouth came down to cut off her surprised exclamation. His warm lips claimed hers as if to set his seal forever on her soul. While it was not the gently seeking kiss she’d often dreamed would be her first, neither was it brutal. Roberto was merely staking his claim to her in a most definite, undeniable manner.

Even as she strained against the hand that held her head still, Julie fell prey to the wonder of the moment. His warm, firm lips upon hers were conjuring up feelings she’d never dreamed possible. Though her mind shrieked warnings and resisted his dominant force, her body began to melt under his expert touch.

At last she ceased to pull away from him, her hands feathering across the fabric of his shirt, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath her palm. At the urging of his hand on the small of her back, she leaned against him, letting him support her weight as her knees buckled. Tingles raced up her spine as his hand splayed itself across her back.

By the time he released her, she was limp with a desire she’d never imagined before. His dark eyes studied her soft features, her dazed blue-green eyes, her kiss-swollen lips.

“Now I have an idea what you will look like after I’ve made love to you; all soft and dreamy, your hair spread out across my chest,” he whispered softly.

Reality jolted through her like a spear as she realized what she had done; what he had made her do. Her face flamed as she recalled how she had responded to him, and she stiffened with injured pride and pushed herself hastily out of his arms, frowning with disapproval of both herself and him.

“You will
never
make love to me, Roberto! This was just a temporary lapse on my part. You took me by surprise. It won’t happen again.” She delivered her message across her shoulder as she stalked haughtily away from him.

“Run, little rabbit, run!” His laughter followed her as his humor reasserted itself. “Just make sure you don’t run in circles, for the fox will catch you yet, and what a dainty morsel you will make!”

“I’ll poison myself before I let you touch me again!” Julie shot back.

He merely laughed the harder. “The fur is already starting to fly!” he taunted. “You have lost — you just don’t know it yet!”

It was mid-May in the Colorado hills, and the fresh spring breezes seemed to be affecting all of nature. The countryside had shed its white winter coat for a new one of vibrant green. Wildflowers were in abundance, showering the rolling hills with every color conceivable. The willow trees, the first to produce their leaves, spread their long fronds gracefully to the ground, creating shady bowers along the riverbanks.

The call of spring brought life to its fullest crest. It instilled the urge to mate in all creation. Small animals darted about with renewed zest, and the bees searched out the nectar in the fragrant flowers. New life abounded in the form of newborn calves and colts. Baby chicks and ducks waddled awkwardly behind proud mothers, peeping and quacking uncertainly as they struggled to keep up on wobbly legs.

Jeremy particularly favored the colts, darting about on their long, spindly legs. “They sure stick close to their mothers,” he commented to Adam. “Are they afraid they’ll get lost?”

Adam laughed and draped an arm over the boy’s shoulder. “There is not much chance of that. Their mothers would find them soon enough. The foals just don’t want to be far from their next meal, that’s all.”

“They sure look funny with that fuzzy hair and those short, wispy tails,” Jeremy grinned in delight. “Looks like someone put part of a broom on their backsides!”

Just before bedtime one evening, Jeremy burst into the house, bubbling over with excitement. “Tanyal Adam! Come quick! There’s a mare in the barn about to foal. Josésent me to tell you.” He spun about, retracing his steps toward the door at a lope. “He says I can watch if I’m quiet!” The back door slammed shut behind him.

Tanya and Adam exchanged an amused look with Rachel.

“
Qué torbellino!”
Rachel declared with a chuckle. “What a whirlwind!”

“He’s all boy,” Adam grinned in agreement. “Surely you haven’t forgotten what Justin and I were like at his age.”

“
Dios mio!
How could I? What one of you could not think up to get into, the other one would. You were terrors!”

Justin faked an offended stance. “Why, Rachel! Adam and I were angels!”

Rachel skewered him with a skeptical look.
“Si
! The only thing supporting your lopsided halos were your devilish little horns!”

Melissa’s giggle was contagious. “Please tell us more, Rachel,” Tanya begged. “This could prove very interesting.” She slid a sidelong glance at Adam.

“Never mind,” he told her, helping her to her feet. “Jeremy is waiting. You can exchange sordid tales with Mother later.”

Jeremy was awed by the miracle of the foal’s birth. Never had he witnessed anything to compare with it. He sat quietly mesmerized by the heaving sides of the mare, watching as Joséand Adam soothed and aided her. His breathless exclamations upon the final arrival of the fuzzy, wet newborn foal brought tears to Tanya’s eyes. Jeremy’s smothered giggles as the spindly-legged babe tried out its legs for the first time brought chuckles all around. His marvelous, wide-eyed delight infected them all.

Across Jeremy’s head, Adam’s glowing ebony eyes held Tanya’s, and she knew he was recalling the night Hunter was bom. For long minutes, they silently shared the memory of that magical moment when Adam had helped his firstborn into the world and held him in his hands.

“I love you,” he mouthed soundlessly.

“I know,” she mimed back, her eyes misting once more. Without so much as a touch, they were wrapped in the warmth of their love.

As promised, Adam patiently taught Jeremy how to ride, selecting a gentle mount for him. Part of each morning was set aside for Jeremy’s lessons, and often Tanya watched, recalling how Adam had taught her in a similarly patient yet entirely different manner. Here, Adam was teaching Jeremy to ride his first horse, instilling fundamentals of a fairly routine measure. In the Cheyenne village, he had taught Tanya, who already knew how to ride a horse in the usual fashion, how to ride as an Indian brave should.

Sometimes, while Adam was occupied with Jeremy, Tanya would chat privately with Rachel. The more the two women got to know one another, the closer they became.

“I wish you’d had the chance to know Adam’s father,” Rachel told her. “He was a fine man.”

“If Adam is anything like White Antelope, I am sure I missed meeting a wonderful person.”

Rachel smiled wanly. “It helped and it hurt at the same time to see Adam grow up to be so like White Antelope, not only in looks, but in attitude. I loved White Antelope, even after we parted, and I grieved for him then and when he died.”

Her face took on a wistful expression. “I’ve often wondered what would have happened if I’d stayed with the Cheyenne. I suppose in time White Antelope would have come to hate me for not accepting his ways. It was better this way, perhaps, after all. At least I have provided my son with an education, and the option of living 6as a white man someday if he chooses.” A long sigh escaped her lips.

Tanya touched Rachel’s hand briefly. “I’ve been told White Antelope loved you until the day he died. He grieved as you did at being parted, but it gave him great joy that you shared your son with him. He did not resent you because you could not conform to his way of life.”

“Thank you,” Rachel murmured, her eyes soft with memories. “That is kind of you, especially since Adam has told me how dearly you had to pay for my mistakes.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.” Tanya frowned thoughtfully.

Rachel explained, “Adam told me what rigid tests Black Kettle set up for you before you could become Adam’s wife. I thought you might resent me, for it was because of me that Black Kettle did not want Adam to marry a white captive. It appalls me to think of what you endured, and yet you met Black Kettle’s standards. Knowing how hard it must have been, I admire your courage and stamina.”

Tanya shrugged. “It was not an easy goal to attain, and I had to work harder at it than I ever have for anything else, but it made me strong and gave me pride in myself. It also made me realize that I can survive anything — but the loss of Adam and his love.”

“My son tells me you like the Indian way of life.” Rachel shook her head in wonderment. “I loathed it so thoroughly that I can’t imagine how you could possibly enjoy it.”

Tanya smiled. “I love the simplicity and freedom of Cheyenne ways. There is a basic, raw-boned honesty — a thing is either right or wrong. Everything hinges upon basic needs; food, shelter, clothing, families. Everyone pulls together for the good of the tribe, sharing and caring for one another, putting individual needs aside. Petty squabbles and backbiting are less noticeable than elsewhere in the so-called civilized world. There is less time for it, and more important things to worry about.”

“But Tanya dear, it’s so
primitive!
”
Rachel shuddered. “I’ll never forget how shocked I was. No snug homes with cheery fireplaces; china, silverware, or utensils. I was astounded to see people actually eating with their fingers and children running about naked. I yearned for a soft bed, a comfortable chair, a real bath with scented soap! My fingers bled from scraping hides and working bone needles through tough leather. The sight of buffalo or deerhide sickened me, and I longed for the feel of silk and satin, or even muslin! And when I discovered I was pregnant with Adam, it frightened me that there were no doctors for hundreds of miles, nor anyone with whom I was close to comfort me. Most of all, I missed my family. Everything was so strange to me there; the language, the people, the entire way of life. When I married White Antelope, they merely tolerated me. I prayed for rescue even after I came to love my husband. He and Adam were the only bright spots in my existence.” She sighed. “I hated the cruelty and the bloodshed. It made my blood run cold to see the warriors in their warpaint and hear their horrid chants. I detested the food, the clothes, the land, the people; literally everything about the village!”

Tanya laughed ruefully. “It doesn’t sound as if much has changed in the last quarter of a century. Life among the Cheyenne is still pretty much as you described it then. The hard work was satisfying to me once my muscles were accustomed to it. It was music to my ears to awaken to the sound of Panther — er — Adam chanting his morning prayers, and the day I dis- covered I was carrying his child was one of the happiest in my memory.”

Tanya’s eyes rested on Rachel’s face, willing her to understand. She held out her arms, revealing her wristbands. “These are the only wedding bands I need, and the other jewelry I treasure is all Cheyenne.”

“As with you, the Cheyenne did not like me at first, but I won their respect and I proved myself worthy of their friendship. Now there are many I grieve for, and others I yearn to see again. Once I’d proven myself to be as capable as any brave, they willingly accepted me as one of their own; Black Kettle’s adopted daughter, and the bride of A-Panther-Stalks.”

Rachel studied her thoughtfully, then asked, “What about your sons, Tanya? Is that the life you want for them?”

Tanya answered without hesitation. “Yes. It is what Adam wishes, too. Our sons will grow up strong and brave, proud and loyal, with good values. They will have a religious belief that is natural and pure in its basis. They will have a knowledge of nature that no classroom could instill in them. When Adam decides the time is right, we will see they are educated in the proper white schools. Meanwhile, they will be learning three languages from childhood, and all else that Adam and I can teach them of both cultures.”

“Didn’t you miss your family?”

Tanya nodded. “Yes, and I will miss them again when we return to the village. Adam has suggested that we tell my parents we wish to live elsewhere for awhile, or that we are traveling. We will return for visits as often as we can so all of you can see your grandsons.”