Wild Desert Princess (9 page)

Just thinking about it gave her a headache. She moaned and the nurse moved nearer, clucking with concern. “Now dear, just stop fretting over it. Things will work out. Let yourself sleep. In the morning everything will seem brighter.”

Chia willed her body to relax. With ruthless determination she pushed all thoughts of Jahan and her parents out of her mind. Instead she imagined what her child would look like. She hoped he looked like his father, dark haired with midnight black eyes. A miniature of Jahan without all his bad habits.

Throughout the afternoon and evening Chia slept fitfully. Dr. Khan left late and gave
detailed instructions for the evening staff. If there was any change in Chia’s condition, he wanted to be called.

Chia woke in the middle of the night. She needed to use the bathroom and refused to call the nurse to help her use that dratted bedpan. She slowly eased from the bed and walked into the bathroom. She was not as weak as she feared. Once she had tended to her needs, she moved to the door. The two guards moved to prevent her from leaving and Chia stopped in alarm.

“Why are you here?”

“Prince Jahan’s order,” the largest one rumbled. “Please go back inside, Princess.”

“You mean I’m a prisoner?” Rage glittered in her green eyes.

“Prince Jahan can explain it to you, Princess,” he insisted and gently, but firmly pushed her back inside her room.

“Prince Jahan will never be able to explain this,” she grumbled and went back to her bed. She was furious. She absolutely refused to become so agitated that she would become incapacitated and need another sedative. She regulated her breathing until her muscles relaxed and then she knew no more until the doctor woke her up at six in the morning.

Surprisingly, she had rested well and felt much like her old self. “Good morning Dr. Khan. How long have I been a prisoner?”

Dr. Khan refused to lie to her. She needed someone she could trust to tell her the truth. “Jahan posted them after you were first brought here. One of the opposition placed a note on your pillow. He did it for your protection.”

“Perhaps, but he did not tell me. He just made the decision
without consulting with me.” She was so tired of being treated like a brainless twit.

“He is a prince. He will protect what he considers his.” Dr. Khan shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t suppose I am well enough to be released?” She asked hopefully.

“Actually, if you could find someplace you could go where you could rest and not have all the stress dumped on you, you could go today. Do you have someplace like that, Chia?”

“My parents gave me my own apartment here in the city when I started to fight for some independence. I’ve only used it a couple of times. It would be perfect if they would leave me alone.”

“I will speak with them later. Just don’t answer your door or phone for a few days. Now the first thing is to get you past your guards.”

“How?”

“You just leave it to me.” Dr. Khan called for the nurse to bring a wheel chair. Once she was in the room, he explained the plan. They’d wheel her out and tell the guards were taking her for some tests and once out of sight, the nurse
would find her some scrubs. Then Dr. Khan would take her to his car and drive her to her apartment.

Normally, Dr. Khan would be against her leaving. He sensed her despair and knew it would do her more good to be completely away from Jahan and her parents for a couple of days.

Chia held her breath as they left the room. The guards demanded to know where they were going. Dr. Khan drew himself up, his face frozen in hard lines of disapproval as he answered with short clipped words. “We’re going for tests. Never question me again or I will have you put out of this hospital. I don’t care who your master is. Do I make myself clear?”

The obvious leader bowed slightly, a sign of respect. “Of course, doctor. Forgive the impertinence.”

Dr. Khan pushed Chia down the long hallway, calm on the outside, a nervous wreck on the inside. His career might well be over once Jahan found out how he had helped Chia run from him again. Frankly, he didn’t care. His main concern was his patient’s welfare and Chia was near the end of her ability to cope with them all.

Once out of sight, he slipped into a storage closet and left the nurse to help Chia change. They’d only be able to stall the guards for so long before they became suspicious and called Jahan. Khan figured he would put him off for a few days, saying he had moved her to another room. He wasn’t sure it would work, but he’d give it a try.

Chia opened the door. Even Khan had a hard time recognizing her. A cap covered her bright hair and the baggy scrubs disguised her full curves. She was surprisingly steady on her feet.

Chia grinned at him, some of her spirit returning. She’d felt almost smothered since she had found out about the last betrayal. The sudden despair that swept over her made her wonder how she would be able to stay married to Jahan if she couldn’t trust him. They walked slowly towards the staff elevator. Chia’s heart raced
the nearer they came. She wasn’t sure what she would do if they were caught. She didn’t expect they would listen to her and let her go. Not when they answered to their prince.

When they finally stepped through the door and it closed behind them, Chia slumped in relief. “Whew! I was sure they would catch us.”

“They still might. We must hurry, Chia.” He gently grasped her elbow when the elevator stopped and led her down to the garage. After helping into his car, he drove quickly to her apartment.

“I’ve been thinking, Dr. Khan. It won’t take long for Jahan to come after me at my apartment. How do you feel about me going to visit a friend in the desert? Her family is nomadic and she is home for the summer. She is engaged to Sheikh Ben
Assaud. My parents would never think to look for me there. Jahan is not aware of my friendship with the family. I met her at University and we became very good friends.

“As long as you can rest and get a physician for periodic exams. I see no problem. In fact I would suggest you leave immediately otherwise Jahan will blockade any way out of the city.”

“May I use your phone, please?” Chia was a bit fearful of Jahan’s anger. It didn’t matter. She knew she had to have some rest or she would lose the baby. After all women had been giving birth in the desert for centuries. She would be no different.

“Of course, help yourself.” Dr. Khan handed her the phone.

“Miriam, this is Chiandra. I have a huge favor to ask of you and your family.” Chia quickly explained all that had happened to her. Miriam was horrified. She’d been pledged to Ben since she had been a child. Fortunately, both their parents had decided to break it with tradition and allow them to see each other over the years. They had found their long friendship had evolved into love and passion. Now they were eagerly awaiting their wedding in a few months. Chia was to be her maid of honor. Now she would be her matron of honor.

Miriam instructed Chia to go directly to the airstrip and she would have her family’s private jet waiting. She told Dr. Khan what Miriam had said and he swung his sedan around and headed for the strip. As Chia strode into the plane she waved to her doctor and her friend. She worried that he would be in serious trouble once Jahan found out, but Dr. Khan had assured her that he would keep her secret no matter the cost. She would find a way that he would not be penalized by her husband. It was so strange to think of Jahan as her husband.

Sitting down and buckling in, she suddenly found she was exhausted. She closed her eyes and dozed. She kept the scrubs on. She didn’t think she was easily recognizable. She been away and out of the public eye for a few years. She woke as the plane began to land. Not once did she see the pilot.

Once they were safely on the ground, she rose and left the plane. Miriam met her in her Jeep. Her ready smile flashed at Chia’s garb. “Good disguise. I would never have recognized you.”

“I figured if your pilot saw me he would not know who I was.”

I informed the pilot and co-pilot not to look at you. I told them an old friend was coming
to see me and was very shy.” She giggled at the absurdity of anyone thinking Chia was shy.

Chia hugged
Miriam tightly. “You don’t know how good it is to see you, Miri. I really need a friend I can trust.”

Miriam led her to the Jeep and helped her in. “No one will tell Jahan and your parents where you have gone until you are ready to go back. As you know we travel a bit. It will be difficult to track you down.”

“Will I be able to visit a physician? I don’t want anything to happen to the babe.” Chia’s hand went protectively to her stomach.

“We have a doctor who travels with us. As you know, my family is tied in with all the modern technology. So I don’t see a problem.”

“I can’t tell you what this means to me, Miri. I’ve felt so betrayed lately. I can’t trust my father, or mother and Jahan has manipulated me to get what he wants.” Tears sparkled in her eyes as she stared out the tinted glass.

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. I know your parents love you and Jahan has always been possessive of you. I can’t believe they have done this to you. Didn’t they always say you’d be allowed to marry for love?”

“Sure, but in their minds, it was perfect since they knew I loved Jahan. They just never bothered to tell me of their plans and the contract.” Hurt rasped at Chia’s throat.

“So you do love him.” Miri slid a concerned glance at Chia’s pale face.

“Yes, but I can’t trust him. He kidnapped me and then he seduced me. He actually thought I’d dishonor our ways by giving myself to someone other than my husband.”

“God, what a pig. Forced seduction, for pity’s sake. How barbaric!” Miri was horrified. The passion she had shared
with Ben had been hot and wild. They had just barely managed to stop before they made love. Both wanted to wait until they were man and wife.

“He dishonored me. I was a month pregnant before we wed. The truly sad thing in all this is that I still love him and we’d have been happy if I hadn’t found out about the contract. Now I don’t trust anything.”

“Well, you can trust me and you can stay as long as you wish. Our wedding is in five months and I still want you to be a part of it. If you are still here then. You will have to decide for all the rulers will be invited,” she warned softly. “Jahan will be here as our prince.”

“I will just take it a day at a time, Miri. That is all the energy I have.” Wearily, she closed her eyes. All she wanted to do was sleep.

Miri was worried about Chia. She had lost that sparkle that was so uniquely hers. Jahan and her parents had done a real number on her. Never had Miri seen her friend so despondent.

Miri was thankful for her parents. Once she had told them Chia’s story, they had been sympathetic, offering their hospitality for as long as she needed it. They
had promised not to inform Chia’s parents or Jahan of her whereabouts until she was ready. They knew Chiandra had been a great friend to their daughter when she had been mugged and nearly raped during her first year of University, by a drunken football player who would not take no for an answer.

In a few minutes Miri had pulled up in front of a large group of tents. She had already had one set up for Chia close to hers. Although she would like to share with her friend, she sensed Chia needed to be alone to try to heal her wounds.
Sometimes you just had to be alone to work through your problems.

“Miri, it’s wonderful.” Chia stepped out of the cooler interior of the Jeep and felt the waves of heat roll over her.

“I love it out here. Everyone once in awhile I just like to connect with the land.” Miri led Chia to her tent. “This is yours, Chia. Rest and when you feel like it, I will bring the physician to you. You’ll will find clothing and some water inside.

“Thank you.” Chia fought tears as she hugged her friend. Stepping into the interior of the tent, she sighed. Miri had thought of everything. She even had a cooler full of bottled water. She quickly stripped off her scrubs and wiped away some of the sweat and sand. She needed to go greet Miri’s parents. Her eyes refused to stay open and the soft pillows on her bed were just too inviting.

Chapter Thirteen

Jahan stormed into Dr. Khan’s office. His guards had contacted him fifteen minutes ago, informing him of Chia’s disappearance, as well of the fact that the doctor had helped her escape.

“What have you to say for yourself?” he bellowed, his temper nearly out of control. Chia had managed to slip out of his grasp once more.

“What do you wish me to say? I’m helping a patient get the peace and quiet she needs in order to recover and not lose her child,” he informed Jahan quietly.

“She’s my wife, Dr. Khan. I have a right to know where she is.” Frustrated, Jahan fell into the chair across from Khan’s desk.

“She’s my patient and I have a responsibility for her welfare,” Khan shot back.

“You are not going to tell me where she went, are you?” Jahan stared coldly at the doctor. The thwarted part of him was ready to rip Khan apart, the rational part admired the man’s dedication to his patient, to the point he’d actually risk his career to do what he felt was best for her and the baby.

“No, I’m not. When she is ready she will come back.” Khan could see the worry and anger on Jahan’s face and felt just a little bit of remorse.