Gentle Fury by Monica Barrie

Author:Monica Barrie [Barrie, Monica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Scan; HR; Tapestry #24; American West; Civil War
ISBN: 9780340349175
Publisher: Coronet
Published: 1983-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The hot New Mexico sun beat down unmercifully on Ti's head. The hat she wore helped some, but she wished for some shade. When she glanced at James, she saw he seemed unaffected by the heat. Seeing that, Ti willed herself to ignore everything and keep her face as stoic as the Indian's.

The day had gone slowly, and with the sun hanging halfway between the horizon and its zenith, Ti wondered when they would make camp. They'd left the mountains two hours ago and entered a vastly different terrain. The hard ground of the desert made Ti long for the cooler mountains behind them.

Ti had spent the morning trying to find out where they were going, but James had not answered any of her questions. The only words he'd spoken were commands, and those were very rare. He had untied her reins from his horse and had made a simple statement: "Don't run away."

Having seen the futility of her hopes in his eyes, she had slowly nodded. But still, whenever she tried to question him, he acted as if he hadn't understood her.

Ti unhooked her canteen from the saddle horn and took a needed drink. From the corner of her eyes she saw James look at her.

"How much farther?" she asked.

"A day and a half," he said. He almost smiled, but stopped himself when a look of discernment flashed across her face. "But not in the desert. We will reach cooler land by morning."

"Thank you," Ti said, genuinely glad he'd told her something.

For the rest of the afternoon they rode without further words. When the sun dropped, and the low-hanging mountains that had been in view through the afternoon loomed closer, James called a halt.

He hobbled the horses and told Ti to unpack her bedroll. When that was done, she saw him staring at her and holding a length of rope.

"Will I have to tie you?" he asked.

"No."

"Then I have your word you will not try to escape?"

Ti bit her lower lip nervously. To an Indian, a promise was sacred, just as it had always been to her. Taking a deep breath, and hating herself, she nodded.

"Good," James whispered. He went to his horse and took down a cloth-wrapped bundle, and as Ti watched him, her stomach growled. This morning

James had shot three rabbits while they rode toward the desert. Now he was going to prepare them.

Ti watched for a few moments while he cleaned two of the small animals and readied them for the fire. Then she turned, aware that the Indian watched her, and began to gather kindling for the fire.

Ten minutes later the fire roared to life, and while the Indian cooked their meal, Ti went to Samson and the mare and unsaddled them, fully aware of James's eyes following her every movement.

For a few minutes, as she worked with the animals, Ti forgot about the situation she was in, until the scent of roasting meat reached her nostrils. She turned to see the two rabbits over a nice fire.

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