In a Renegade's Embrace by Cynthia Wright

Author:Cynthia Wright [Wright, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, General, Western
ISBN: 9780989091954
Google: 0eoDBgAAQBAJ
Publisher: Boxwood Manor Books
Published: 2012-01-18T05:48:12+00:00

Chapter 16

August 6, 1876

Dusk was gathering, washing the landscape with hues of amber and rose, when the pair of mules pulled their wagon and two passengers to the crest of a gentle ridge. Bear Butte loomed before them now, filling Maddie’s vision. The flatland that lay below the ridge and stretched up to the laccolith’s base was threaded with cottonwood trees.

Fox drew back on the reins and narrowed his eyes at the distant trees that shimmered in the gentle breeze. “Those cottonwoods mean water. They grow along streambeds, and that’s where the Indians make camp.” He shaded his eyes and wished he’d thought to bring a spyglass. Suddenly it occurred to Fox how careless he’d been—probably because his mind had been clouded by a lot of nonsensical visions of Maddie. Why hadn’t he realized that the Indians might attack them before he could establish contact, before he even knew they were there! How the hell was he going to communicate if he didn’t see someone he recognized early on? And the words—! Panic swept over him as he struggled to remember the rudiments of the Lakota language he’d nearly mastered a few years ago.

Sensing his tension, Maddie said, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he murmured, and gave her a smile of calm assurance. “I was just thinking... wondering how best to approach this situation.”

“Shouldn’t we search for the village?”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that it’s down there, shielded by the cottonwoods. In fact, my guess is that they already know we’re here.”

Maddie tried to swallow, but it seemed that something was lodged in her throat. Reality penetrated at last: Fox really had no guarantees about what would happen when they came face-to-face with these renegade Indians.

“Maybe it would be best just to sit here for a little while and wait—give them a chance to come to us,” he decided at length. “I believe I’ll eat while I can.”

She stared in disbelief as he rooted around behind them in the wagon and brought out a hunk of rye bread, some jerky, and a couple of plums, all of which he offered to Maddie. “No, thank you,” she cried in a strangled voice. “I’ve no stomach for food at the moment.”

“Sorry to hear it,” Fox replied laconically. He ate with relish, washed it all down with cold coffee, wiped his mouth, then got out to give Watson and the mules water from a bucket. When he returned to his seat, Maddie was fairly wringing her hands.

“How can you be so composed? Why, I—”

“Don’t raise your voice,” Fox interrupted. “It carries on the breeze. Would you be happier if I gnashed my teeth and begged God to spare us from torture and death?”

Before Maddie could speak again, Fox lifted his head, put a finger to her mouth, and listened. “They’re coming,” he whispered.

Sheer terror flooded her. For an instant she thought she might faint, then her innate strength bobbed to the surface. “Shall I get a rifle?”

Fox gave her an endearing smile and caressed her cheek with a brown hand.

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