Page 71 of The Last Warrior

To pine on the stem;

Since the lovely are sleeping,

Go sleep thou with them.

Thus kindly I’ll scatter,

Thy leaves o’er the bed,

Where thy mates of the garden

Lie scentless and dead.”

Watching her, listening to her, Black Lion felt as though some mythical force had borne him to another place and time, such was the power of her voice. Though she sang a melody with unfamiliar words, he stood enchanted.

It was the next verse of the song, when he at last caught her eye. Was it his imagination or, from then onward, did she sing only to him?

“So soon may I follow

When friendships decay,

And from Love’s shining circle

The gems drop away.

When true hearts lie wither’d

And fond ones are flown,

Oh! who would inhabit

This bleak world alone?”

The final note was high, drawn out, and when the music faded into nothing, it took the assembled crowd a moment to recover. At last, brilliant waves of applause greeted her, and the “Brava! Brava!” was shouted out amid further praise.

Suzette nodded, smiling and bowing, accepting her due gracefully. Before she left the platform completely, she lifted her gaze to glance out at him. The others around him faded. She didn’t smile at him, but she didn’t have to. He recognized the hunger echoing deeply within her gaze.

He sincerely hoped it was for him. Having once known the sultry wonder of her affection, these last few days without her had been unbearable. Despite their troubles and the differences between them, Black Lion now harbored a knowledge deep in his soul.

He loved this woman. It was the wrong time for love, the wrong place for love, for he could not afford to give her the attention a wife so thoroughly deserved.

Yet, there it was. He had found his life’s partner. As they stared at one another, he knew their hearts were one. In time her anger at him would cool, and she would come to realize he would never love another as he loved her. For now, this realization was enough.

When she averted her gaze, Black Lion quietly left Buffalo Bill’s welcome tent to keep his promise to his wife and go in search of the Song Bird, Irena.

Suzette accepted the praise from an admirer graciously, beaming her pleasure. Yet when she glanced back to the spot where Black Lion had been, he was gone.

Disappointment flooded her. She had been looking forward to speaking with him. True, she was certain her words to him would have been sarcastic, perhaps even antagonistic, for he still had much explaining to do before she would give him quarter.

Nevertheless, she had welcomed the opportunity to spar with him.

“Miss Joselyn.” It was Buffalo Bill who had come up behind her. “This is the first time I have heard you sing. Does Irena know she has a rival in you?”

Suzette laughed. “I could never compete with Irena, nor would I want to. She is an act all to herself.”

“That she is. That she is, and the Wild West is grateful to have her.” Cody leaned down close to her, and the scent of whiskey was heavy on his breath. “It would be my pleasure, Miss Joselyn, if you are willing, to show you exactly how wild our Western country can be.” He grinned inanely.

If it weren’t for the fact that Cody was completely serious, Suzette might have greeted his offer with a short laugh. The suggestion did seem outrageous. Even more so because, since she had arrived here, Cody had paid her little heed, catering instead to his opera star, Irena.