A Long Trail Rolling by Lizzi Tremayne

Author:Lizzi Tremayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780473309503
Publisher: Blue Mist Publishing

'Thank you for coming to check on her,' Xavier said from between tight lips. 'I care for her very much and will keep her safe.'

'You have my blessing to try,' Dancing Wolf said, 'but I have known her since we were children. Trying to protect her is like trying to protect the wind.'

The Californio raised an eyebrow at him.

'She has told you of our past?'

'Yes,' he said abruptly, and looked away.

'Good. She cannot be mine, but I would be happy to see her safely protected in marriage to a strong man, so I thank you. Care for her well.' He nodded. 'I will go to say goodbye.' The Indian turned and went to find Aleksandra.

Leaning back against the barn wall, he watched his tired pony sip water from a bucket, then turn to munch hay while Aleksandra brushed him vigorously, using two currycombs at once. The pinto preened as she rubbed hard in circles. Beneath her breath, she muttered words he'd never before heard coming from a woman's mouth.

He raised his eyebrows, wondering if it were safe to approach. She kept grooming when he walked up beside her, though the curses stopped.

'You know, his color might come off if you keep doing that,' he said dryly.

She stopped and leaned over the colt, laying her cheek against his rump. 'I feel so alone and unloved.'

'You are neither.'

'But you don't know the truth of it.' Aleksandra slid down the pony's leg to the ground and sat with crossed legs. She haltingly explained the problems between her and Xavier, staring, but not seeing her fingers, tying knots in a piece of hay.

'It sounds like you need to talk together, as is always the case with mates.'

'I keep thinking if I hold on and keep trying, everything will work out, but every time we start to get closer, he runs away and won't let me close.' Her head sunk to her chest. 'I've only done what I thought was right and best for him '

'You must give him time,' he said. She shrank back from his glare. 'And, you have no idea what is right for him.'

'But will we ever get past it? How long will it take? And then…and then,' her breath caught on a sob as she stood up, 'he treats me like a child,' she wailed and tossed her brushes to the ground, bursting into tears.

He looked at her, eyebrows raised.

She turned and flung herself at the man, wrapping her arms around him, sobbing.

He stiffened. Disentangling her, he held her at arm's length.

'If he treats you like a child, perhaps it's because you act like one,' he growled.

She looked at him without speaking, mouth rigid. 'What do you mean?' she spat, beneath narrowed brows.

'Stop acting like a spoiled infant. That man loves you enough to want to protect you, despite your behavior and unwillingness to act like a female. It would not have been accepted in our village, nor by me. What I didn't tell you in front of Xavier was why my friend, the one who saved your life, sent for me.

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