Enchanted Ecstasy (7 page)

"They are leaving, let it be."

"No! They killed Salador. I will kill them all," she cried.

Kane held her in his arms as she sobbed out her grief. "Hush, hush, it is all over," he said soothingly.

"I loved him and they killed him," she sobbed.

"I know, but he would not want you to cry."

"You do not understand! Salador and Lamas have lived at Deveraux Ranch since before I was born. They always looked after me and protected me. Salador is . . . was ... I loved him."

"It would seem his last thoughts were for your safety. He knew what he was doing when he rode toward those Indians."

Maleaha wiped tears on the back of her hand and moved away from him. "You are right. Salador would not want me to cry," she said, squaring her shoulders and raising her head proudly. Kane saw her battle with the tears that were shining in her eyes.

"Those Indians were Arapaho, major. If you want proof to take back to the colonel, I suggest you look for it among their dead bodies."

Kane followed her down the hill. When he reached the bottom he began to examine the dead Indians, while Maleaha found Salador's body. It was hard to recognize Salador, he had been so badly mutilated. Maleaha picked up his knife and began digging frantically in the soft sand. She would not leave him until he had a proper burial. She felt rather than heard the major kneel down beside her. With the butt of his rifle he helped her dig the grave that would be the brave Salador's final resting place. When the hole was deep enough, Kane lifted the dead Indian in his arms and laid him in the shallow grave. Then once more working with his rifle butt, he covered the grave over with sand.

He watched as the Indian girl raised her hands to the sky and chanted some words he could not understand. Then she knelt down and clasped her hands as if she were praying. As she stood up she looked at Kane.

"What were you saying just now?" he asked softly.

"I asked the Great Spirit to accept the soul of a brave warrior."

"You believe in the Indian god?"

"I respect the Indians' belief, major, although I myself was raised as a Christian. You might find, if you took the trouble to look, that the Indian God and the one you worship are one and the same."

"I was not condemning, Miss Deveraux, merely curious."

"Did you find anything to prove it was the Arapaho who raided the ranches?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I found this silver armband with the sun and the moon carved on it. I believe it is like the one found at one of the ranches."

Maleaha took the armband from him and studied it, turning it over in her hand. "Yes, this is the symbol of the Jojoba. Very clever of the Arapaho to try and implicate the Jojoba tribe by leaving this behind as evidence. Do you believe Mangas now, major?"

"With this, and my report on what happened here today, it should not take long to place the blame where it belongs, Miss Deveraux."

"We have one problem, major. First we must find our way home. And it seems we shall have to walk, since the Arapaho have cleverly taken our horses, believing we are as good as dead without transportation and water.''

Kane shoved the armband into his pocket and picked up his rifle. Looking at the grueling sun, he removed his jacket and unbuttoned his white shirt. "Shall we go, Miss Deveraux?"

6

Kane had not taken many steps when he realized the Indian girl was limping. Taking her arm, he stared down at her. "Why did you not tell me you had hurt your foot?"

"It is nothing, I can manage."

He shifted his rifle to his other shoulder and took her arm. "Lean on me for support, Miss Deveraux. Try not to put too much weight on your injured foot." Kane put his arm around her waist, lending her his support.

They were making slow progress as Maleaha tried to keep up with Kane's long strides. She did not want him to know just how painful her ankle was, knowing they must put as much distance between themselves and the Arapaho as they could before nightfall. She did not really expect them to return, but it never paid to underestimate one's enemy.

Maleaha stumbled and would have fallen if Kane's strong arms had not been supporting her. Kane was beginning to suspect that her injury was much worse than she would have him believe, so he swung her up into his arms, over her loud protest, and carried her as easily as if she weighed nothing.

"I will do the walking for both of us," he told her.

Maleaha put her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. She could hear the steady drumming of his heart as she closed her eyes. How right it felt to be in his arms. She loved the feel of his soft white shirt against her cheek.

She had felt pride in him today. He had been fearless as he took charge against the Arapaho, and she herself had felt little fear because he had given her courage as they faced death together. Maleaha knew that if it had not been for his quick thinking and bravery she would, at this very moment, be just as dead as Salador.

Together they had faced overwhelming odds, and together they had won. Of course Maleaha knew they would not have stood a chance had it not been for Salador's sacrifice. He had bought them enough time to get to safety, and by doing so he had lost his life. Maleaha felt a great emptiness inside her knowing how much she would miss Salador. She had always accepted his presence as a fact of life, but until today she had not known how much he loved her.

Maleaha felt the major's eyes on her face and she looked up at him. "You were very brave today, Miss Deveraux. I do not know of any other girl who would have reacted as well as you did under the circumstances.

Maleaha was pleased at his praise of her. "I was just thinking how well you performed under danger, major."

"Coming from you, I consider that high praise indeed. Do you think the Arapahos will return to search for us?"

"I do not think so, but it would not do to let our guard down. Most probably they think we do not stand a chance of surviving without our horses and water."

Kane could feel the afternoon sun beating down on him. There was no breeze, no shade, nothing to shelter them from the heat. He looked down at the girl he carried in his arms. Her face was the loveliest he had ever seen, and she seemed almost childlike at the moment, depending on him because she could not walk.

Kane felt his body come to life and he tried to beat down the desire he was feeling for her at the moment. He doubted he would feel so drawn to her if they were not alone and dependent on each other for survival.

He smiled down at her and she gave him just the slightest smile in return. There was no sense fooling himself, he had wanted her ever since he first saw her at the fort. Although he had fought against his desire for her, he knew he had never been moved by any other woman as he was by her. Perhaps it was because she was so different from anyone he had known before. He tried to picture Lucinda under these same circumstances, or any of the other ladies he was acquainted with. He frowned. It was not really fair to compare Miss Deveraux with the gentle-bred ladies he knew. It would be just as difficult for her to function in an environment where women wore silk gowns and knew all the niceties of life as it would be for them to function in her uncivilized world.

"Major, if you will make for those pine trees you can see off to your left, you will find a stream where we can rest and refresh ourselves."

Seeing the mountains in the distance, Kane shifted her weight and walked purposefully toward them.

"If I am too heavy, I believe I can walk now, if you put me down."

"Nonsense! You hardly weigh anything."

Maleaha observed his face through half-veiled eyes. She could see the black stubble that indicated that he needed a shave. His chin was firm and stubborn, hinting that he would always want his own way in everything. His lips were full, and Maleaha turned her face against his shoulder as she wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him.

When she looked up at him, she saw mockery in his silvery eyes, as if he had read her thoughts and was amused by them, and she drew in her breath as his eyes moved to her lips.

"Please put me down. I can walk now," she said through stiff lips.

"Why do you have to be so damn beautiful? I have been having some unconventional thoughts where you are concerned," he ground out.

Maleaha was incapable of answering as she felt herself drawn under his spell, and in her innocence she did not really understand the full extent of his meaning.

Was he going to kiss her, she wondered, as his lips drew closer to hers, and against her will, her lips parted in silent invitation.

"Oh no, you little enchantress, I will not fall under your spell. Are you not satisfied with all the hearts you must have extracted from others? Must you have mine to add to that number? Kane asked her mockingly.

"I was not aware that you had a heart," she snapped, angered by his statement.

"You are right. I do not have a heart. But I am a man, and I can feel the pull of your charms. Mangas must have enjoyed you last night. I am surprised he would let you go so easily."

By now they had reached the shelter of the tall pine trees, and Maleaha tried to squirm out of his arms, not understanding the harshness of his tone nor the meaning of his words. "I am very fond of Mangas, you know that."

"Obviously," he drawled, setting her on her feet to end her struggling.

When Maleaha's injured foot touched the ground, she bit her lip to keep from crying out in pain. She hobbled down to the stream, went down on her knees, and buried her face in the cool water. She then cupped her hands and drank deeply of the refreshing water, aware that the major was doing likewise.

Maleaha lay back on the cool grass, allowing the soft breeze to cool her overheated body.

Kane was lying beside her, and she turned her head to look at him. "Major, the Kincade ranch is no more than ten miles from here. I could give you directions, and you could be there before midnight if you were to leave right now."

"Are you suggesting that I leave you behind?"

"Yes, I would only slow you down. You could send someone back for me when you arrive. It is most important that you inform the colonel about the Arapahos as soon as possible."

"I have no intention of leaving you behind. We started out together; we will stay together until we reach our destination."

"You do not need to concern yourself about me; I can take care of myself."

"When I leave, Miss Deveraux, you will leave with me!" he said in a tone of voice that showed he would not be swayed by her and that dared her to disagree with him.

"Let me have a look at your ankle," he said, sitting up and taking her injured foot in his hand. Before she could protest, he had shoved her doeskin dress up and was unlacing her moccasin.

Kane's eyes traveled over her long, shapely leg to her delicately arched foot. Seeing that her ankle was red and swollen, he frowned. "This is much worse than I thought. When did you injure it?"

"When we were climbing the hill trying to get away from the Arapaho."

He lifted her in his arms, carried her to the stream, and plunged her foot into the water. "I am angry that you did not tell me how badly your ankle was hurt. Did you think to impress me by being a martyr? I can assure you that ploy will not work on me."

"I do not have the slightest idea what you are talking about! I did not tell you about my ankle because it was none of your business," she told him haughtily. "I pity you, major. You always seem to look for the worst in people. Does it disappoint you that I had no motive in mind when I did not tell you about my injury? I simply did not think it concerned you."

"If I look for the worst in people as you say, I have rarely been disappointed, especially where females are concerned."

Maleaha was angered by his assessment, as well as by his degree of sarcasm. "Poor Major Benedict, have you been sorely used by the ladies?" she said through clenched teeth.

"You should not put any weight on that foot for a few days." Kane said, ignoring her outburst.

Maleaha leaned back on the grass and rested her head against her folded arms while her foot dangled in the water, bringing relief to the throbbing ankle. She sighed, wondering what there was about the major that both drew her to him and pushed her away at the same time. There had been sparks between them ever since they had met. She decided not to think about it, afraid to examine her feelings too closely, concentrating instead on what they could eat. She felt almost weak from hunger.

"Major, if you will notice the trees off to your left— they are called piñon trees. The nuts that grow on that tree are edible and very tasty. While they will not fill us up, it will take the edge off our hunger. We don't have the ammunition to hunt game, and even if we had meat we could not chance lighting a fire."

Kane stood up angrily. Once again she was taking charge, but he had to admit grudgingly that what she said was logical, and that did not help his temper any as he gathered the nuts from the piñon trees.

Kane and Maleaha ate the nuts, and to his surprise they were indeed quite good.

After they had eaten, Kane decided that they would rest by the stream for the night and get a fresh start in the morning. They were both lying on the grass, feeling relaxed.

"Major, the Jojobas have a saying about the piñon nut. They say if a man had to live on nothing but the piñon nut, he would continuously be shelling the nut, deriving only enough strength from eating it to continue shelling it, to continue eating it."

"I fail to see the point of your story," he said, propping his head on his hand and looking at her with a bemused expression on his face.

Maleaha laughed delightedly. "Perhaps one must be an Indian to understand the humor of it."

Kane watched as she stood up and waded into the stream. When she reached the deepest point she disappeared beneath the water. Holding his breath, he waited for her to surface, and when she did it was some twenty yards downstream. He watched as she swam gracefully through the water, and he had a sudden urge to dive into the water and swim over to her.

Kane removed his boots and walked slowly into the stream. With a few powerful strokes he reached her in no time.

Maleaha seemed unable to move as his arms went around her waist, pulling her to him. Her green eyes fused with his silver ones and she felt them both sink beneath the surface.

His lips found hers and they were locked in a stormy embrace. Maleaha's arms were around his neck, and as she pressed her body close to his a feeling of drowning washed over her, although she knew instinctively that he would not allow her to drown.

She was aware that they had surfaced, but he did not release her lips, and she clung to him as if he were her lifeline. All her young girl fantasies were realized in his hungry possession of her lips. Love that she had dreamed of finding with the right man had come upon her unaware, and from the most unlikely source.

"Oh God, I have wanted to do that for so long," he murmured in her ear.

Maleaha felt him swimming toward the shore, and she laid her head against his chest, too overcome with feelings to speak. She could hear his heart drumming beneath her ear, and she thought surely he must feel as she did.

When they reached the bank Kane lifted her into his arms and laid her down on the grassy slope. His silver eyes held her spellbound as his lips moved over her satiny skin. Maleaha had never been kissed before, and she thought how right it was that he should be the first to kiss her.

"Where did you learn to swim?" He asked against her lips. Not that he cared what she would answer at the moment, it was just something that had popped into his mind, because he had never known a girl who could swim.

"Mangas taught me," she whispered.

Kane's hand tightened on her shoulder and his eyes darkened. "I should have known. What else did he teach you?" he asked her as his lips came down roughly on hers. He felt himself burning with jealousy at the thought of her in Mangas's arms, or any other man's, for that matter.

Maleaha's lips parted beneath his hard, demanding mouth, and she was overcome by the beauty of his kiss, for it was indeed beautiful. This new feeling was love—love that he had forced her to feel almost against her will.

"You are a desirable little savage," he said as he rained kisses over her face. Kane's body had never felt so alive. It was as if every fiber of his being was attuned to the soft body he held in his arms. Raising his head, he stared down at her. Her face held a glow, and her lips were soft from his kisses, her black hair was still wet and it clung to her head like ebony velvet. Her green eyes were drawing him to her, almost against his will.