While Passion Sleeps by Busbee Shirlee

Author:Busbee, Shirlee [Busbee, Shirlee]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Southern, Romance - Historical, General, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Louisiana
ISBN: 9780380822973
Publisher: Avon Books
Published: 1983-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

Today was such an important day in the history of Texas, one that could change the course of events for the future. Never before had any major group of Comanches agreed to hold peace talks with the Texans, even though Houston had tried unceasingly to arrange such talks all through 1837. Both the Texans and the Comanches had excellent and urgent reasons for seeking a truce, if not an everlasting peace. Perhaps the Texans, occupied with the continuous fight with Mexico, would gain more from it than the Comanches— certainly it would give Texas the much-needed opportunity to consolidate her frontier communities without Comanche interference.

As for the Comanches, they had only to agree to halt raiding into Texas and give up some two hundred white captives, and accept a fictitious Texan sovereignty which would be, as far as they were concerned, no more effective than had been the Spanish sovereignty. The advantage to them would be that Jack Hays and his Rangers would no longer harass them in canyons where they liked to camp. Also, peace would open up trading between the Texans and the Comanches, something that many on both sides were eager to see. Everj^hing hinged on this meeting.

Tossing aside his cheroot, Rafael made one of the most difficult decisions of his life—he would say noth-

ing to the Comanches. Since he didn't know for certain that Fisher was prepared to risk losing everything by forcing a showdown if the Comanches had not brought in all of the captives, he didn't dare go to the Comanches and, by telling them of his own suspicions, wreck any chance of a treaty.

Reaching the Maverick house once again, Rafael was not in the best of tempers. It had galled him to play the diplomat, even with prodding from Houston. He was a man of action, not words, he thought sourly, and perhaps if he had felt his mission had been successful he might have been in a better frame of mind. But, frowning blackly, he walked into the hpuse without knocking and, finding only Beth and Mary waiting there, he barked sharply, "Where the hell is your husband? I thought I told him to wait here."

Mary's plain, round face showed her surprise, not only at the profanity but the familiarity it betrayed, and she shot Beth a curious look. By sheer willpower Beth managed to keep her features smooth and polite despite the strong urge to shout back at him. Smiling coolly, she said, "Mr. Maverick wanted to show Nathan a horse that he owns and thinks is especially suitable for breeding. I believe that they will return in just a -moment."

He hadn't meant to snap at her like that, and certainly not in front of someone else. Recovering himself, he said in a quieter tone, "Forgive me! I am not, I fear, particularly amiable at this time and spoke without thought."

It was on the tip of Beth's tongue to reply smartly, "As usual!" but in front of Mary Maverick she held back the words, graciously bowing her blond-braided head in acknowledgment of his apology.

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