Lone Warrior by Bobbi Smith

Author:Bobbi Smith [Smith, Bobbi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Historical, Western
ISBN: 9781477835098
Google: AP-YoAEACAAJ
Amazon: B00E6BROF8
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2013-08-05T23:00:00+00:00

It was already daylight when Marissa stirred. She awoke slowly, clinging to the serenity she’d found in sleep. But as she opened her eyes, she was forced to face reality—to remember what had transpired the night before.

“That life is over. Zach Ryder died that day.”

Even now, pain filled her as she remembered how tortured Wind Ryder had sounded. She had hoped, after all they’d shared, that she would be able to reach him, but he had refused to listen to her pleas. He had walked out after the passionate night of loving they’d shared, and he hadn’t come back.

Marissa got up, determined to find him. After dressing, she left the lodge and went looking for him. She was surprised when she could find no sign of him anywhere in the village. She returned to the tipi and was about to go back inside when Crazy One approached her.

“He’s gone,” Crazy One told her solemnly.

“Yes, he is. You’re safe.”

“No. No.” She shook her head as she drew closer. “He’s gone. He left the village. He rode away by himself. I saw him. Don’t know when he’ll be back.”

“You saw Wind Ryder leave?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“At dawn. I heard him tell Black Eagle he didn’t know when he’d be back.”

Marissa was stunned—and heartbroken.

How could Wind Ryder have left her without saying a word?

Had last night meant so little to him that he could just ride away and not look back?

“Is that all he said?” she asked Crazy One.

“That is all I heard. He’s gone. Now I have to go, too. I have work to do.”

She walked away without saying anything more.

Marissa went back inside the lodge and stood alone, staring down at the blankets where she and Wind Ryder had made love just hours before—where she had given him her innocence. She wanted to get a horse and go after him, but she couldn’t. She would be forced to wait there for his return—whenever that would be.

As she considered remaining alone in the village, Marissa thought of Bear Claw and fought down a shiver of fear. She would have to be watchful every minute, for she did not trust the other warrior to stay away from her. Without Wind Ryder’s protection, she was vulnerable.

A thought came to her, and Marissa knelt down to quickly go through the few personal belongings Wind Ryder kept in a buckskin bag in the tipi. She was hoping to find a weapon of some kind so she could defend herself against Bear Claw if the need arose. Digging through his belongings, she was glad to find a small knife. She secured it in her waist-band and had just started to put everything back when she saw something shining in the bottom of the bag. Marissa reached down and drew out a gold chain and cross.

A shiver went through Marissa as she stared down at the cross. The cross belonged to Zach. This was the only connection to his family he had left. Despite his words, he had not severed all ties with Zach Ryder.

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