A Kiss of Adventure by Palmer Catherine

Author:Palmer, Catherine [Palmer, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Inspriational, Suspense
ISBN: 9781414328331
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2008-05-01T05:00:00+00:00

NINE

Tillie slept, but only after she had counted every star in the desert sky, listened to the grunts of the camels, and made a hundred plans of escape—none of which would work.

She was awakened at first light by a rough shake on her shoulder.

“Tree-Planting Woman, io. Come.”

Opening her eyes wide, she looked up into the veiled face of the amenoukal. She struggled onto her elbows, blinking back sleep and the nightmares that had seemed so real. “What do you want from me?”

“We will put you on your camel, of course.” Khatty’s voice behind the amenoukal was light with suppressed laughter. She said a few words to the tall man, and he chuckled deeply.

“Ah, Tree-Planting Woman.” The amenoukal reached out and touched Tillie’s cheek with a gentle stroke.

Recoiling, she looked up in time to see a flash of jealousy cross Khatty’s face. Unaware of his wife’s reaction, the amenoukal spoke to her briefly before striding away, his sandals kicking up puffs of dust.

“He says you are beautiful when you sleep,” Khatty reported. Her lips were tight. “Io, enkar. Come, get up, get up. Your dromedary is waiting.”

Tillie took a deep breath and slid out of bed. She had no desire to provoke ill will in the Tuareg woman, but there wasn’t time to reassure her. After allowing Tillie a moment to relieve herself, Khatty led her to the line of kneeling camels and questioned one of the men in attendance.

“This one is for you,” Khatty explained. “You ride dromedary before this day?”

“Never.”

“Of course not. Maktoub, then. God’s will be done.”

Tillie stared after her as Khatty sauntered away, her hips swaying like a belly dancer’s in the pink sunrise. She turned to her camel, which sat in the sand chewing contentedly, surveying the landscape beneath two-inch-long eyelashes and looking like it hadn’t the least intention of getting up.

Her dromedary was scrawny, its yellow hide patchy and its knees nothing but wrinkled black leather, but the century-old saddle trappings were impressive. Several layers of heavily embroidered blankets, some tasseled and fringed, formed the base for a huge leather saddle. Its seat and backrest were worked in mystic designs meant to protect the rider. The three-pronged saddle horn, which had been tipped in silver, took on a fiery sheen as the sun rose.

Most members of the Tuareg clan had mounted their dromedaries already and were watching her with undisguised interest. As their white-skinned hostage started to climb on, the amenoukal appeared at her side. He slipped his long fingers around her waist, boosted her into the air, and gestured for her to pull herself onto the saddle. She flung one leg over the camel and struggled to sort out the gown and burnous that had tangled between her legs. Just when she thought she had herself balanced and arranged, the amenoukal pulled a whip from his belt and tapped the camel, which lifted onto its knees in one jerky motion.

“Whoa! Hold on a second now!” Tillie threw her arms around the saddle horn as the camel slowly straightened its hind legs.

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