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Sage came and stood over Stephanie. “I want you to eat and then leave,” he flatly ordered. “You and your brother have brought my people only heartache. Especially my son, Runner. He allowed himself to fall in love with you. Now he must learn how to fall out of love, for you are not deserving of such a son as this.”
“Except for going to Canyon de Chelley, I didn’t do anything wrong,” Stephanie pleaded. “I am innocent of everything else that Adam told Runner about me. Adam is a liar. I despise him, Sage. Please believe me when I say that my intentions toward Runner and your people are pure. Please give me a chance to prove it?”
“My son does not get this angry at someone without good reason,” Sage said flatly. “So it is with him that you have your true argument.”
Stephanie felt completely drained as he walked away. When Leonida brought her a large bowl of mutton stew, she ate it ravenously and drank goat’s milk as fast as Leonida could refill the cup.
Her srrength having returned, her purpose revitalized, Stephanie left the bed.
Leonida stepped away from Stephanie, wanting so badly to tell her that she admired her for being so independent, but she kept her feelings to herself. The rift was between her son and this woman and no one else should interfere, especially not a mother.
“I want to thank you for your kindness,” Stephanie said softly. “And it has not been misplaced. I have been wronged by my brother. He lied to Runner. But I can’t go into it now. It’s complicated.”
Stephanie paused, then added, “But I do want you to know that I honestly love your son,” she said, her voice breaking. “I would never do anything to hurt him. I would especially not pretend that I have feelings for Runner to help Adam in his schemes. It’s not true. Now I have to convince Runner that it isn’t.”
“You will find Runner down by the river,” Leonida said. “He should be finished with his bath by now.”
She found herself sympathizing with Stephanie. Her instincts told her that the young woman had been duped by Adam.
Shameful, shameful Adam, Leonida thought sadly to herself. He had been such a sweet boy to have grown up into such a deceitful, shameful man.
Forgetting her filthy clothes and unpleasant odor, Stephanie gave Leonida a lingering hug, then fled from the hogan. As she stepped outside, she ran bodily into Runner.
When she gazed up at him and saw the utter contempt in his eyes, she felt as though she was being shredded into a million pieces by the sharpness of his gaze.
But that did not dissuade her from what she had to do. He had to understand. He had to believe her.
“Runner, please listen to reason,” she said, jumping with a start when he brushed past her and went inside his hogan.
She turned and gaped, then flinched when he appeared at the door again and glared at her. “I do not want to listen to you, nor do I want to see you again,” he stated flatly. “Nothing you say will change my mind. Do not waste any more of my time.”
“Runner, please . . .” Stephanie said, extending begging hands toward him. “Adam lied. Why can’t you see that? He lied purposely to wrench us apart. And it worked. He wanted you to hate me. It’s obvious that you do.”
Tears fell from her eyes. “I shall always love you,” she said. He stood glaring at her as though she were nothing more than the lowliest of animals.
“Get on your horse and ride from my village,” Runner said between clenched teeth. “Never come again. And if Adam shows his face here again—”
“Stop! Stop!” Stephanie suddenly screamed. “I’ll leave. Just please quit being so angry. While you are this angry, you aren’t able to think clearly. You are wrong to hate me. After you sort through your feelings, and measure Adam’s words within your heart, you will know that you have been wrong to turn me away.”
She wiped tears from her eyes with the back of a hand. “I’ll be waiting, darling,” she murmured. “No matter how long it takes, I’ll be waiting for you.”
She turned quickly on her heel, went to her horse, and eased herself into the saddle. Without looking back, she rode from the village.
A bitterness rose into her mouth when she thought of Adam and what he had caused. She was not one who hated so easily, but at that moment, she hated her brother with a loathing that burned deep into the core of her being. Somehow, he had to pay for what he had done.
And she would find a way.
Chapter 28
Swift the weeks are on the wing;
Years are brief, and love a thing
Blooming, fading, like a flower.
—EDWARD ROWLAND SILL
Stephanie awakened with a start as her railroad car rocked on the tracks, shaking her awake. Rising to one elbow, she quickly realized that the trembling car had not been the cause of her awakening. It had been a loud blast that had preceded it. Even now she was hearing a low rumbling series of explosions.
