His Dakota Captive by Jenna Kernan

Author:Jenna Kernan [Kernan, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-11-28T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Sky’s mind still reeled with his suspicions as Lucie attended their visitors. No one noticed his preoccupation and after a moment he recovered enough to hear Lucie.

Lucie seemed much more at ease as she spoke to Black Horn. “We have more meat. Please take it.”

“You have been generous already,” said the warrior.

Lucie insisted. “A gift to your wife and the children, from the wife of Eagle Dancer. Please. It would honor me.”

He nodded his acceptance.

Sky watched the exchange with a welling feeling of pride. She was becoming a woman he admired before his very eyes. She handled herself with such poise and compassion. It was a rare thing in this lonely world.

Sky handed over the remains of their food stores, unconcerned about providing for Lucie. He had a fine rifle and a horse. They would most certainly not go hungry. But these men went on foot and without firearms, which they were forbidden to carry, and all because their skin was the color of the fine red pipestone.

He shook his head at the idiocy of the White Father’s plan for his red “brothers”.

At least Sky could provide some small comfort. “We butchered our other horse late last night after it was struck by the thunder gods. It was a good horse, healthy and fat.”

The men discussed the location and then set out leaving Lucie and Sky alone by the fire.

“That was well done,” said Sky.

“What?”

“He couldn’t accept all our meat until you mentioned his children. You made it a blessing instead of charity. I think you are beginning to understand now.”

Her smile faded. “Is that what this is, some grand lesson to teach me the error of my ways?”

Sky realized too late that his compliment had become an insult. He tried to correct his mistake. “I only meant to say that I see now why Eagle Dancer elevated you to wife. He would be proud of his wife this day.”

Her eyes narrowed and her face grew flushed. Sky recognized the boiling fury and had the foresight to prepare to duck, but when she stepped forward, she only aimed a finger at him.

“Let me tell you about my elevated life. Before my wedding, my mother-in-law beat me with a cord of wood as big around as her wrist and she gave me this.” Lucie pointed to her chin. “I begged Eagle Dancer for my freedom, but my husband wanted to ‘elevate me,’ a thirteen-year-old child, to wife. He took me the same month I became a woman.”

Sky frowned at this, wondering why Eagle Dancer hadn’t protected the one he claimed to love.

“Don’t you presume that my time with the Sweetwater in any way resembled the romping free life of a beloved son. I was a captive and I did what I did to survive.”

Sky met her angry stare, taking in all the pain that filled her face, refusing to look away. “Do you hate them, Lucie? Is that why you worked at their school?”

She threw up her arms. “No. They’re children.

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