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“Yes, I am White Wolf. My wife is Dawnmarie,” White Wolf said, lowering his hand to his side.
“Señor, word was brought to me that you were questioning about me,” General Rocendo said. He gestured toward the door. “I was told why. Come with me inside my villa. I will be glad to do what I can to help you in your search for your people, señora.”
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nbsp; Smiling, relieved that her long journey was almost over, Dawnmarie went with the general and White Wolf into his vast, elaborate house.
She welcomed the soft, plush cushion of a chair as she sat down in his parlor. She feasted her eyes on the grand, rich paintings that hung on the walls in gilt frames. She had never seen such beautiful furnishings, carpets, and paintings. She could tell by all of this that the general was quite a wealthy man.
“And so now tell me about your journey to Mexico,” General Rocendo said, nodding to a maid who brought in a pot of tea and colorful, dainty teacups.
Dawnmarie silently nodded a thank-you to the Mexican woman, then sipped the tea thirstily. Then she explained about her people, the Thunder Clan of Kickapoo.
She smiled happily when his eyes widened in recognition.
“Señora, your people live only a short distance from here in the mountains,” General Rocendo said, stroking his long, lean fingers through his raven-black hair. “I will send soldier escorts with you tomorrow to Fire Thunder’s village. You will spend the night? I have adequate bedding for overnight guests.”
“Thank you,” Dawnmarie was quick to say, recalling the many nights spent on straw in barns, or on the cold, hard ground between blankets that had not kept her warm enough.
“Señora, it is way past our supper hour,” General Rocendo said, going to Dawnmarie, helping her from the chair as White Wolf rose from his. “Let me take you both to your room. Then food will be brought to you. And warm water will be brought to you in your room for a bath.”
Dawnmarie gave the general a grateful smile.
After Dawnmarie and White Wolf were alone in their room, and had eaten, and bathed, she stood at the window and stared up at the mountain in the distance. She could see blazes of light. Surely she was seeing the Kickapoo’s fires.
A shiver ran through her to know that she was finally close to her true people, her true destiny.
White Wolf came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against him. “My wife, my beautiful wife,” he whispered, “are you happy?”
“Oh, so very, very happy,” she murmured.
He turned her to face him, then swept her into his arms and carried her to the huge, plush bed.
When they made love, it was as though it was the first time.
Chapter 16
Say thou lov’st me while you live,
I to thee my love will give.
—ANONYMOUS
“I’m not certain if I am well enough to ride a horse today, to go with you on your search for the “Solomon’s seal plant,” Kaylene said as she sat on the edge of the bed, slipping her foot into one moccasin, and then the other. She wore a long riding skirt made of calico, and a long-sleeved white blouse, her shoulder comfortably bandaged beneath it.
“Would you rather stay behind?” Fire Thunder said, tying a bandanna around his brow as a headband to keep his hair back from his face. He wore a hunting shirt and fringed pants made of calico.
“Do I have a choice?” Kaylene asked, surmising that he must think that if she was well enough to ride a horse, she was well enough to leave at her own will in his absence. “Dare you leave me alone?”
“I doubt that you would leave now, even if given the chance to,” Fire Thunder said, reaching down and placing his hands to her waist. He drew her up before him and brushed her lips with feathery kisses.
“Now can you truly be that sure of me?” Kaylene teased. She twined her arms around his neck, her eyes twinkling into his.
“There is too much now that keeps you here,” Fire Thunder said, his lips tugging into a slow smile.
“May I ask to what you are referring?” she asked, sending him a rueful, slow smile.
“I am why you would not leave,” Fire Thunder said, chuckling low. “Surely you can’t live without my lips, my hands, my heat.”
