Wild Is My Heart (29 page)

“He’s a warrior,” Black Bear chided gently. “He might appear hard and inflexible, but he loves you. His eyes do not lie.”

“What about Violet Eyes? She loves Lion Heart and he treats her like … like his whore,” she whispered, lowering her voice. “It isn’t right, Father. I don’t think he will honor their marriage once they leave here.”

“I have done all in my power to provide for Violet Eyes’ future,” Black Bear replied. “Lion Heart defeated Brave Eagle fairly and joined with Violet Eyes of his own free will. Now it is up to Violet Eyes to capture her husband’s love and banish his prejudice. Proud blood flows through her veins; she will persevere. With your help, daughter, Lion Heart will one day recognize the love in his heart.”

Laura seriously doubted her brother’s heart would melt so easily.

Colt was ecstatic when told that Laura would be allowed to leave with him and Violet Eyes. Damn, there he went again, referring to Sam by her Indian name. If only things could return to the way they were before he had learned that Sam belonged to the despised Comanches. At least one good thing had come of it. Laura. He couldn’t get her out of here soon enough to suit him.

Colt chafed impatiently while he waited in the center of the village for Sam and Laura to appear. His wits sharpened when the two women emerged from the tipi and were met by Black Bear, who escorted them to where Colt stood. Once again Colt was struck by Sam’s beauty, vividly recalling how she had been in his arms last night, all response and feeling, fire and ice, and how he enjoyed making love to her. Christ, she was wild in bed. A touch was all it took to set her on fire. Vaguely he wondered if she would have acted the same with Brave Eagle had the Comanche won the right to wed and bed her. The thought set his teeth on edge.

Soon they were mounted and ready to ride. Colt still found it difficult to believe he was riding out of the Comanche camp with his skin intact and both Sam and Laura in tow. He had fully expected to fight Long Bow for Laura, but Black Bear had convinced the warrior to look elsewhere for a wife, freeing Laura to leave with him despite her vigorous objections. To compensate for his loss, Long Bow was appointed a chieftain and promised another bride equally as beautiful.

In the years Laura lived with the Comanches she had become thoroughly Indian, even down to the walnut stain used to dye the golden hair he remembered so well. That practice would stop immediately, Colt decided with firm resolve. Already he could see hints of lustrous gold mingling with inky strands and wondered how long it would take to bring it back to its natural color.

Though he yearned to dig his spurs into Thunder’s sleek flanks, Colt deliberately refrained. Sweat poured down the inside of his collar, his body tense, waiting for the cry indicating the savages had changed their minds. Only when they were out of sight of the village did his breathing return to normal and he hastened their pace.

They rode in silence for hours. Both women were grateful when Colt finally called a halt by a stream so they might rest and water their horses. Taut silence reigned as they refreshed themselves and ate a meal of pemmican and parched corn. After Colt drank his fill he sat on the ground resting against a tree, regarding Laura with tenderness as well as a good bit of frustration.

“I know you’re unhappy now, Laura, but in time you’ll come to appreciate Black Bear’s decision. Black Bear is wise,” Colt allowed grudgingly. “He did the right thing. Do you seriously believe you could be happy married to a savage?”

Laura bristled, taking exception to Colt’s choice of words. “Long Bow is no savage. He is a brave and courageous man and has proven his prowess many times over. I doubt there is a white man to compare with him.”

“Christ, Laura, you sicken me with your continual praise of the same savages who killed our parents,” Colt exploded angrily. “You should hate them as much as I do.”

“Black Bear wasn’t responsible for our parents’ death,” refuted Laura tearfully. “It was a raiding party of renegade Comanches.”

“Comanches are all alike,” glowered Colt, deliberately avoiding the more colorful language he normally employed when speaking of Comanches.

Laura glared at him with stricken eyes, leaped to her feet, and stalked off toward the woods.

“Don’t wander too far,” Colt called after her departing back. “We’ll be leavin’ soon.”

“Damn your ornery hide, Colt!” Sam hissed furiously. “Leave the girl alone. Can’t you see she needs time to adjust to the change in her life? She’s still as much an Indian as …”

“… You are,” Colt finished disparagingly.

“You can treat me as vilely as you please if you feel the need to strike out at someone, I can take it,” Sam retorted tartly. “Laura is too vulnerable and open to hurt to take your needling. Let her grow accustomed to you slowly.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Colt allowed, eyeing her sourly. “Laura is white, she’ll come around soon enough.”

“Colt,” Sam ventured, hesitant to broach the subject yet anxious to settle things between them. “What happens now?” Her words brought a puzzled frown to Colt’s face. “With us, I mean. Are you going to hold that ridiculous robbery charge over my head or am I free to leave with Will?”

“You call robbery a ridiculous charge?” Colt demanded. “Men have hung for less. Have you forgotten our ‘marriage’?”

“Marriage!” snapped Sam, dismayed. “Surely you don’t mean to hold me to those vows. They were Indian rites, hardly binding, and you know it.”

“But you’re Indian, Violet Eyes, or so I’ve been told. Don’t you consider them bindin’?”

“Me?” Sam squeaked. “Of…course not.” Colt noted the slight hesitation in her voice, and a slow smile settled over his harsh features.

Sam wasn’t certain what she believed. Spirit Dancer’s words at the joining ceremony had as much meaning to her as if a preacher had married her and Colt. “I know you hate Indians, Colt, and I couldn’t live with a man who considered me less than human because of my mixed blood.”

Colt’s tawny eyes darkened with an emotion Sam found difficult to decipher. “I never thought the day would come when I’d desire an Indian squaw like I do you,” he admitted. His anger was directed not only at her but at himself. “Christ! I can’t remember when I’ve loved a woman so thoroughly, or received so much satisfaction in return. I didn’t think it possible to—I’ve hated Indians for so long—What I’m tryin’ to say is that makin’ love to a half-breed isn’t as repulsive as I reckoned.”

“Damn you, Colt! You’re a cold-blooded polecat with no heart and even less scruples. A braying ass has more brains than you do. Nothing could convince me to stay with you. If you need a whore, go see Dolly Douglas.”

She turned away, sickened. Colt leaped to his feet, his hurting grasp on her arm stopping her in her tracks. “You’re goin’ nowhere till I say so, Violet Eyes. You’re stayin’ at the ranch with Will and Laura. Your brother needs some stability in his life right now, and so does my sister. I doubt if I could keep Laura with me if you weren’t around. She’s grown to depend on you in the short time she’s known you. Besides,” he added, a slow grin curving his lips, “I still want you despite—everythin’.” His tawny eyes turned a dark, smoldering gold, and Sam fought the surge of hot desire his look evoked.

Colt did not miss the expression that passed over Sam’s face. It spoke eloquently of the passion they shared, of the response she could not deny. He pressed forward, his intention all too apparent, when Laura stepped into view.

“Hell’s bells,” Colt muttered beneath his breath. “Mount up. We’ve wasted too much time already.”

That night Sam was careful to make her bed next to Laura’s. Though Colt offered no objection, he bent her an austere look before placing his own bedroll a short ways apart from theirs. As long as he kept his distance, Sam reasoned, she could resist him. But if he decided he wanted her and used his considerable power over her, she was lost.

Several days later Sam recognized landmarks indicating they were on Howard property. No—not Howard property, she thought bitterly, Colter property. During their long days and night of travel, she and Laura maintained their close friendship while Colt became more sullen and withdrawn. Sam assumed it was due partly to Laura’s lack of acceptance of her brother and the white world. She failed to recognize the primary reason for Colt’s moodiness—her own remoteness and lack of response while he still desired her desperately.

Jake saw them first. He was working near the corral when he spotted three riders approaching the house. His hand poised above his six-shooter, he waited until they were close enough to recognize before relaxing his guard. Then he took off running, waving and shouting to alert the others. Hearing the commotion, Will came rushing from the bunk-house, his face wreathed in smiles when he saw Sam.

Sam slid from her horse, holding her arms wide as Will ran into them, hugging her tighdy. “I knew Colt would find you, Sam, I just knew it!”

Sam realized that after today Colt would be a hero in her brother’s eyes and didn’t know if she liked that or not.

Colt and Jake exchanged meaningful glances and a hearty round of back slapping. Then Jake hugged Sam fiercely. At length he noticed Laura standing quietly at Colt’s side. “What’s with the squaw? Is she some kind of hostage?”

Colt bent Jake a warning look that the foreman found confusing. Grasping Laura’s hand tightly, Colt pulled her forward. “Jake, this is my sister Laura.”

Dismay marched across Jake’s face, quickly followed by delight. “Sweet lovin’ Jesus, you found her! Only you could go after one woman stolen by Indians and bring back two. Amazin’, simply amazin’. Welcome back, Laura. Your brother’s been lookin’ for you as long as I’ve known him.”

Will approached Laura hesitantly, smiling shyly. He offered a hand in welcome. “I… I hope you’ll be happy here. Colt owns the ranch now, but it was ours, mine and Sam’s, once.”

Laura looked confused. “Violet Eyes didn’t tell me that.”

“Violet Eyes!” The words exploded from Jake and Will at the same time.

“It’s the name the Comanches gave me,” Sam remarked apprehensively. She looked helplessly at Colt, hoping he wouldn’t mention her Indian ancestry until she had time to prepare Will.

Colt correctly interpreted the plea in Sam’s eyes and decided it would serve no purpose to tell Will his sister was born of a different mother, an Indian one at that. It was best left to Sam to choose an appropriate time to tell him. Laura sensed Sam’s reluctance to reveal her Indian heritage at this time and also remained silent.

“Those dirty savages didn’t hurt you, did they, Sam?” Will asked anxiously.

Sam saw Laura stiffen and decided to have a talk with her brother as soon as possible. It wouldn’t do to have him offend Laura with his disparaging remarks.

“Do I look harmed? Thanks to Laura, I was well treated. She was adopted by Chief Black Bear and lived all these years as his daughter.”

“Knowin’ Injuns, it’s hard to believe they let you go without a fight,” Jake said thoughtfully. “Comanches aren’t usually so obligin’.”

“Colt did fight,” Sam revealed. “He fought with Brave Eagle and won.”

“Brave Eagle?” Jake questioned.

“My brother,” Laura returned.

Jake quirked an eyebrow in Colt’s direction, noting the pained expression distorting his features.

“Laura’s
adopted
brother,” Colt corrected, holding his temper under rigid control. “The man Sam would have married if I hadn’t turned up when I did.”

“That must of been one helluva fight,” Jake remarked, whistling. For the first time he took a long, hard look at Laura. At first glance she gave the appearance of being thoroughly Indian, but closer observation revealed that she hadn’t one Indian feature. He could see traces of gold amidst dark strands of braided hair and realized it must have been dyed black with walnut stain. Though her skin was darkly tanned, it lacked the red tint distinctive to the race. In fact, with her dark hair arranged in braids, Sam looked more Indian than Laura.

Beneath the doeskin dress Laura’s petite figure appeared distractingly feminine. Somewhere around twenty years old, Jake reckoned. He thought Colt’s sister lovely and wondered how she would look in a becoming dress with her hair combed out and restored to its own natural blond. He was astute enough to realize it wasn’t going to be easy for the girl to adjust to a world she had forgotten long ago. He sensed her confusion, her fear, her unwillingness to leave her Indian family, and his heart went out to her.

Reluctantly pulling his eyes away from Laura’s bowed head, Jake turned his attention to Sam. “It’s good to have you back, Sam. You gave us all a good scare.”

“I missed all of you,” Sam said, swallowing the lump forming in her throat.

“Is it true that Brave Eagle wanted you for his wife?”

“I … yes,” Sam admitted, flushing. “But as you can see, everything turned out just fine.”

“Take Laura inside, Sam,” Colt ordered, scowling. The look Jake bestowed on Sam was so filled with concern and caring that Colt felt a slow anger building inside him.

Slanting Colt a venomous glance, Sam took Laura by the hand. “Come on, Laura. I’ll show you the house. You can have Will’s room. He seems happy enough bunking with the ranch hands.”

Will readily agreed, and the three men watched silently as the women disappeared into the house. Then Jake dispatched Will on an errand and turned to Colt, his brows raised in question. “What really happened in that Indian village, boss? You were gone so long we talked about sendin’ out a search party.”