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She jumped with alarm when sage sparrows flew quickly from the thick grass just ahead of her, flying away from the threat of the large, green-eyed cat.
Kaylene gave Midnight a comforting pat, then walked onward, picking up her pace somewhat as twilight lengthened the surrounding shadows.
Not that faraway she saw mule deer does and two fawns scramble away into the density of trees that stretched away in a patch of green, away from the flat land of the valley.
She sighed when she looked farther still, gazing at the sun that danced between the sky-scratching peaks in the distance, where shadows formed, moved, and disappeared.
She took a step sideways and shuddered when she glanced down at the ground and saw pronghorn bones drying and fading in the sun.
Then she enjoyed one last view again before heading back toward the village, where she was now directly behind Fire Thunder’s lodge.
The valley was not only grassy, but rich with prickly pear plants. She had been surprised when Little Sparrow had brought something unique for breakfast this morning—mush made from the prickly pear cactus plant.
An approaching horseman drew Kaylene’s sudden attention.
When he drew closer, she recognized Fire Thunder.
As he drew rein beside her, she gazed up at him, her pulse racing just to be near him again.
“What are you doing this far from the village?” he grumbled out, his eyes narrowing angrily into hers. “Do you not know the dangers? One stray longhorn could be the end of you.”
“I was only enjoying my walk,” Kaylene said, tightening her jaw under his continued angry stare. She stiffened her spine. “It was you who encouraged me to take walks so that I would get my strength back. And now you scold me for doing what you told me to do? You are a hard man to please.”
“And is that what you wish to do?” Fire Thunder asked, leaning his face down closer to hers. “You wish to please me?”
“Well, I . . .” Kaylene stammered, feeling a rush of heat on her cheeks.
Fire Thunder’s lips tugged into a smile. “I do believe you might be accepting being a part of my life,” he said softly. “It has been a while since you have asked to be released of your captivity. Why is that, Kaylene?”
Frustrated, feeling somewhat trapped, still not wanting to give in that easily to him for fear of appearing as though he had beaten her down into obedience, Kaylene was at a loss for words.
“I see you do not wish to allow me to see inside your heart just yet,” Fire Thunder said, straightening his back as he gripped his reins more tightly. “But words are not always required. I have learned much from my sister who cannot speak or hear. Like my sister, I have learned to sense many things that others cannot.”
He gave her a long gaze, then flicked his reins and wheeled his horse around, away from her. “Go home!” he shouted. “Do not ever wander this far from our lodge again!”
Kaylene’s eyebrows forked. Her lips parted in a gasp as she watched him ride away. “Our lodge?” she whispered, her heart skipping a beat at the reference to the lodge being hers as well as his.
She stared at him as he turned in the direction of the village and stopped at the horse corral and dismounted.
“He already sees me as his, and sees the lodge as equally mine,” Kaylene murmured, still in a state of awe of what he had said.
She was torn with how to feel about that. Yes, she wished to stay forever with him. Yet it frayed at her nerves to know that he took her so much for granted!
“I’ll show him,” she said, stamping toward the lodge, Midnight dutifully following her. “He can’t have control of me. I . . . just . . . won’t allow it!”
Yet, she could not deny how thinking that he wanted her this much, perhaps truly loving her
, made her knees grow weak with desire.
And her stomach. It seemed as weak, even mushy with a strange, rapturous warmth, at the thought of becoming his wife and staying with him forever.
“Forever,” she whispered to herself, thrilling inside at the very thought of it.
Now she was not so certain that she wished to spar with him tonight over who possessed whom. She felt more inclined to give into anything he wished of her, in order to be held in his arms once again, and to be kissed by him.
“I just don’t know,” she whispered to herself. “I . . . just don’t know . . . what I should do.”
As she stepped in front of his lodge, she saw him headed toward the river for his evening bath.
