[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

can drive all the whites out of our land.
 Dull knife is foolish, Skylar said firmly.  I have been to many places far
away from here and seen the villages of the white man that stretch farther
than the eye can see. She reached down and scooped up a handful of dirt.
 Their numbers are many times greater than all the grains of sand on this
reservation. For every soldier killed, two more will come to replace him, and
four will replace those if they die. The Apache cannot win; they can only sur-
vive and learn to live as best they can.
Sun Hawk studied her face as he listened to her words. The images she
created were frightening, but he did not doubt her, because the things she
said matched his own beliefs. What was surprising was the way she spoke. It
was good to find a woman who did not think of him as less than a man
because he did not want to fight a battle that could not be won.
 You have much wisdom and knowledge for a woman so young, he
told her.
Skylar smiled.  I had thought the same of you.
 I am not young, he replied, and then a teasing light came into his dark
eyes.  I only look young to you because everyone in your Apache family is old.
119
Constance Bennett Moonsong [ e - r e ads ]
She laughed lightly, and Sun Hawk felt a stirring of desire so strong that it
nearly took his breath away. His good humor vanished.  Where is your man?
Skylar was astonished by the sternness in his voice.  My man? she
asked, frowning.
 You should have a husband and many children already.
Skylar felt as though she was being scolded, and it irritated her.  I have no
husband or children.
 Why not?
 Because I am an Apache, and no white man has wanted me as a wife.
That made sense.  And no Apache would want you because you have lived
among the whites too long to know the things a good wife must know, he
added crossly, following the thought to its natural conclusion.
He was right, of course, but Skylar was stung by his blatant rejection of
her as a woman no man could possibly want. She knew it in her heart, but
hearing someone say it particularly this man made her feel like the lowest
creature that had ever walked on earth. Fighting back tears, she looked into
the fire again.  As I said before, you are wise.
Sun Hawk saw the pain he had caused her and regretted it deeply.  It is
not your fault, he said, softening his voice.
Skylar couldn t look at him.  Maybe you think it would have been better if
the Chiricahua who slaughtered my people had killed me as well.
 Do you think that? he asked quietly.
Skylar whirled to face him.  No! I have never thought that! Because I lived,
I have known the love of very good people. I have laughed with joy, and
when I cried there was always someone to comfort me. I have seen beautiful
sunrises and thrilled to the sight of a coming storm. My life has been good,
and if I must pay for that by living with the sorrow of never having a husband
or children, it is a small price to pay for the gift of being alive.
Sun Hawk sat back, startled by her ferocity and by the way her flash of
fire made him feel. But the needs she aroused in him were unwelcome ones.
They were not a betrayal of his wife, for he knew he had passed through his
time of mourning, but they were wrong feelings nonetheless.
 Then may you live a long life, he said tersely as he rose. Without giving
her a chance to respond, he turned and became one with the darkness.
Meade threw the letter onto the table and moved across the room to pour
himself another drink. Damn it to hell, why was Rayna Templeton writing to
him? He had enough trouble not thinking about her without her harassing
him with these constant reminders.
Of course two letters in six weeks didn t exactly constitute harassment, he
reminded himself bitterly. Rayna was just being polite, keeping him abreast of
120
Constance Bennett Moonsong [ e - r e ads ]
her father s continuing progress and her lack of the same in obtaining Skylar s
release. Except for her polite expressions of gratitude, there had been nothing
terribly personal in either of the letters. She certainly hadn t mentioned the
kiss they d shared.
Unfortunately that hadn t stopped Meade from thinking about it.
He took a long swig of whiskey, but he already knew from experience that
it wasn t going to do any good. Eight years at Fort Apache hadn t turned him
into an alcoholic, but the memory of that accursed woman just might. Why
the devil couldn t he forget about her?
Simple, he told himself. It was because she was a damsel in distress and he
was a gentleman who d been conditioned to lend aid in a crisis. Nothing
more. The problem of Skylar Templeton was still unresolved, and until it was,
it would weigh on Meade s mind. It was a natural, logical conclusion.
Except that Skylar Templeton wasn t the one who d caused him more
sleepless nights than he could count, and thinking of her sister, Rayna, as a
damsel in distress was nothing short of laughable. She was trapped in a mire
of frustrating bureaucracy, but she was far from helpless. She was beautiful,
yes. And she was fiery, spirited, unladylike, and damned infuriating at times,
but helpless? Hardly.
Blast it all, he didn t even like the woman! he tried to tell himself, but of
course it was a lie. He admired her spirit and her courage. He respected her
loyalty and her deep commitment to her family. He even respected her abil- [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]