The Guardian by Elizabeth Lane

Author:Elizabeth Lane
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-01-01T23:00:00+00:00

BY THE TIME Black Sun emerged from the canyon, the Siksika braves had departed. Their campsite was empty, the bonfire blackened and cold, the ground littered with discarded bones from the deer they’d killed and eaten. He had hoped to find horses nearby, either his own or some he could take. But there were no horses to be found. He would have no choice except to hunt on foot.

Black Sun’s hunting turned out to be even more onerous than he’d expected. The Siksika, being young and lacking in proper behavior, had made enough commotion to scatter all the game within a half day’s ride. He spent the first day of his hunt trekking through the foothills with his bow, seeing not so much as a rabbit or grouse, let alone a deer, elk or antelope. That night he made a small fire in the shelter of a rock and used the coals to roast some roots he’d dug. Even cooked, the roots were tough and stringy, but they would nourish him until he could bring down some meat.

With the foothills barren of game, Black Sun had no choice except to venture out onto the flatland, where the animals could see across the open distance and places for a hunter to lie in wait were few and far between. Worse, he knew that without a horse, he was vulnerable. There was no way to outrun a mounted enemy or to outmaneuver a charging buffalo on foot. Only luck and alertness could keep him safe.

On the second day of his hunt, he came upon a herd of antelope, but their speed was like the wind and they bounded out of arrow range. On the third day he saw a distant herd of buffalo, but he was separated from them by a deep gorge. By the time he found a way across, he knew, they would be gone.

At night he lay under the stars, listening to the breath of the wind and the stirring of small animals around him. When he closed his eyes, Charity’s face drifted above him like a pale moon in the darkness. It was all too easy to remember the feel of her soft breast in his hand and the taste of her skin against his seeking lips. Her husky little voice seemed to whisper in his ear—sensual, caressing words that had no meaning yet told him all he wanted to hear.

He worried about her, alone with her baby in the sacred canyon. There were times when it was all he could do to keep from abandoning this fruitless hunt and retrace his steps to where he had left her. But that, wisdom argued, would be the most foolish thing he could do.

Charity would be safe, he assured himself again and again. She was an intelligent woman, with the good sense to stay where he’d left her. By the time he returned she would have several days of rest. With luck, they’d be able to leave immediately. Until he found horses, they could make fair time on foot, keeping to the woods where they wouldn’t be seen.

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