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Runner rose to his feet and went to Pure Blossom. He took her hand and led her to a seat on a cushion of sheepskins before the fire. He gazed at her, again noticing how frail and small she was, yet so beautiful. She had coal-black, thick hair that almost hung to the floor when she stood. He scarcely looked at her back; the knot forming at the base of her neck was hidden beneath her hair.
He knew that her future was bleak, and that one day she would be stooped and bent, but to him she would never be ugly. He feared that she might never find a man who could look past her frailties. His heart bled to think that she would probably never be given the chance to bear children.
This frailty of hers was a curse that no one could take away, not even the Navaho singers who were used to cure ailments of many kinds.
“We were talking of someone that we knew many years ago,” Runner softly explained. He lifted her hair from her shoulders and let it sift through his fingers like soft earth.
“Who?” Pure Blossom asked anxiously.
“You do not know him,” Runner said, his mind drifting. He wished that time would go faster, so that it would be evening, and he could once again see the white woman. He hoped that somehow they could get past their differences. Their eyes had spoken as they had gazed at one another. To touch her surely would be heaven.
“His name?” Pure Blossom persisted, seeing that Runner’s thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
“Adam,” Runner said, dropping his hand to his side. “He was my friend long ago. I lost touch with him over the years.”
“And he is here?” Pure Blossom said. She rose anxiously to her feet. “He has come to see you? Where is he? I enjoy visitors.”
Leonida went to Pure Blossom and placed an arm around her waist. “No, he isn’t here,” she murmured. She looked over at Runner. “Is he coming soon? I can hardly wait to meet him.” She paused and smiled. “And also his sister.”
“I am sure they will be here one day soon,” Runner said, gazing into the fire. “But first, I must meet with them tonight, by myself. Perhaps it can be arranged that they can come to our village.”
“No, son,” Sage said in a grumble. “Do not bring trouble to us that easily.”
Leonida paled. “Trouble?” She placed a hand to her throat. “You truly believe Adam has come to stir up trouble for our people?”
When neither Sage nor Runner responded, Leonida knew that it was best not to pursue the subject of visitors when it was obvious her husband did not want them. “And Sally?” she could not help but ask. “How is she?”
“Married a third time,” Runner offered. “The white woman with Adam is the daughter of Sally’s latest husband.”
“Her stepdaughter,” Leonida said. “Adam’s stepsister?”
“Yes, that is their relationship,” Runner said. He watched his father saunter from the hogan, obviously tired of hearing any more mention of Adam and his sister, making Runner again feel uneasy about tonight.
Yet still nothing would dissuade him from going. Someone of the Navaho had to see what could be done to protect their interests. He was trying to convince himself that this was the reason for going, when his every heartbeat told him that it was because of a woman, a very entrancing woman.
Leonida was watching her son with much interest and how his eyes always lit up when he spoke of Adam’s sister. She could not help but think that something had transpired between her son and this woman photographer. She wondered what.
And how far had it gone?
It was obvious that Sage did not share his son’s enthusiasm for the woman or Adam. She expected that there were some interesting times ahead for this family, especially for her son Runner.
Chapter 6
Take all that’s mine “beneath the moon,”
If I with her but half a noon.
—WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
Evening had finally arrived. For the most part, Stephanie had been silent while riding on her chestnut stallion on the way to Damon Stout’s ranch. Her thoughts had been on meeting the handsome Navaho brave again. She could hardly wait, yet she feared how he might react when Adam told him the truth about his plans for building a new town within the boundaries of the Navaho reservation.
If Runner’s reaction was what Stephanie expected, she doubted ever having a chance to get to truly know the man who was called the “White Indian.” And that bothered her. It bothered her so deeply that it caused an ache to circle her heart.
But no matter how hard she tried to stop thinking about Runner, she found it impossible.
Adam’s thoughts were also on Runner, but for a much different reason. As he rode his gentle mare through the twilight toward Damon’s ranch, he was worrying about revealing everything to Runner this soon. Perhaps he should wait until friends became friends again, who might then become allies.
And then again, perhaps Adam held the trump card: Stephanie. She could make it all happen for Adam tonight, and every night after this as far as Runner was concerned. Adam had seen the attraction between them.
