To Find You Again by Maureen McKade

Author:Maureen McKade [McKade, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mother and Child, Teton Indians, Fiction, Romance, General, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780739444412
Google: WUKeUFIv5DEC
Publisher: Berkley Group
Published: 2004-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Ridge felt the hostile gaze drill his back as he led Paint back to the rope corral. He wasn't surprised someone was watching him. Ever since he and Emma had arrived yesterday, their freedom around the camp had been an illusion. Emma might not see it, but Ridge did. At least one warrior was always guarding him. He didn't think it was the chief's doing, but the men in the village who didn't trust a wasicu.

He kept his pace unhurried as he used Paint's saddle blanket to rub the gelding's withers, back, and flanks. He knew he was a fast horse, but hadn't realized how swift until the race. A smile tugged at his lips. The braves had been impressed by the weak white man.

Ridge rested his arms across Paint's back and stared out across the village. Two weeks ago when he'd left Sunset to find Emma Hartwell, he hadn't suspected half of what he'd learned about her since then. Discovering Emma was a widow had been surprising, but even more shocking was her son.

Taking Chayton back to Sunset was only inviting more trouble. Her life would be hell and old man Hartwell would try to cover up Emma's sin as quickly as possible by ridding himself of her and her half breed son. He might even force Emma to give up Chayton and then send her off to live with some far-off relative, like he'd planned before Emma had run away.

Bitter bile rose in Ridge's throat as he imagined the proud woman being forced to bend to her father's will. Emma would break before doing so, but what kind of life would she have? Would she end up in one of the cribs in the part of Sunset that everybody deliberately overlooked, where desperate men went looking for even more desperate women?

Merely imagining Emma lying on a dirty mattress, allowing every kind of man to rut with her made him want to puke. But hadn't he used her? She'd asked him about marriage, but he couldn't offer that to any woman until he had a good start on his ranch.

Would he have asked Emma if he was ready to take a wife?

The near-silent approach of someone made Ridge stiffen and strain to hear who it was. He turned slowly, expecting Hotah, but was pleasantly surprised to see Fast Elk.

"Hau," Ridge greeted.

"Hau," Fast Elk replied, his expression somber. "You raced well."

Ridge inclined his head in acceptance. "My horse is strong and fast."

Fast Elk crossed his arms and stared off into the distance. Ridge waited patiently.

"When I found Winona, she was frightened but she did not give in to tears," Fast Elk began. "Our daughter died when she was fourteen summers. Because she was strong and brave, I chose Winona to become our daughter. She never shamed us, but I knew she missed her white home. After the soldiers came, we thought we would never see her again."

"She wished to return to find her son and see her family," Ridge said.

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