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“This cave that we are in?” Joe Feather said, looking over his shoulder, toward the darker depths of the cave. “It has another opening, on the far end. Would you want to go and see what might be at the other end?”
Earl glowered at Joe. “I like this end just fine,” he said, his teeth clenched.
Joe Feather shrugged, then stretched out on his side, his eyes soon drifting closed.
Earl sighed heavily. “Finally,” he whispered to himself. He had not been sure how much more of the damn Indian that he could tolerate.
He glanced over his shoulder at the darker depths of the cave. “Another entrance, hogwash,” he said, soon forgetting about it.
Chapter 17
We parted in silence, we parted by night,
On the banks of that lonely river.
—MRS. CRAWFORD
The sun was low in the sky. The shadows lengthened around Strong Heart and Elizabeth as they rode silently through the forest. Up ahead, Elizabeth’s house loomed through a break in the trees.
Elizabeth gave Strong Heart a downcast look. She was weary not only from the long travel, but also from searching for hours in this forest for where Proud Beaver might be hiding.
Elizabeth’s muscles were sore from the many hours in the saddle, even though the Indian saddle was stuffed with thick layers of cottonwood and cattail down. She was not used to this sort of life—this life of adventure.
And although it meant being parted from Strong Heart, she looked forward to telling her father about her upcoming marriage to the handsome Suquamish brave. It would be a reprieve before she would have to make the long journey back to Strong Heart’s village.
She glowed inside, thinking about what would happen once they were back at his village. She had agreed to be his wife. From that time on, they would never have cause to be separated. It would be like living a dream, to be with the man she loved from morning ’til night.
“The sun soon sleeps as the moon replaces it in the sky,” Strong Heart said, drawing his reins and stopping his horse. Elizabeth followed his lead and her horse stopped beside his. “It is best that we give up the search for my grandfather. He knows the art of elusiveness too well. He does not want to be found. So be it. There is only so much a grandson can do for a grandfather. Now I must return to my people, to my duties to them.”
Elizabeth reached a hand to his bronze cheek. “Darling, you do understand why I won’t be returning with you right now? That I must make all wrongs right with my father? I’ve been selfish until now to only consider my feelings. Although he does not always show how much he loves me, I am sure he does and is very concerned over my welfare.”
“What man could not love you?” Strong Heart said, taking her hand, kissing its palm. “My la-daila, I am fighting jealousy over you putting another man before me. But I know that loyalty is owed to parents. This lightens the burden of jealousy within my heart. Go to your father. Stay as long as it takes to make him understand. Then return to me. I have been careful to map the way for your return. But do not travel alone. If your father is at peace with this that you wish to do, and has agreed, ask him to accompany you to my village. There I will pay him gifts for you. There he will join our wedding celebration. It will be a good time of camaraderie and understanding, this time spent with our people and your father.”
Elizabeth smiled weakly at Strong Heart, easing her hand from his. “You make it sound easy,” she murmured. “I shall try, Strong Heart. But if I do not return soon, please come for me. No matter if my father understands or not, I want to be with you. Come and take me back with you. Please?”
Strong Heart reached for her and placed his hands at her waist. He lifted her from her horse and placed her on his lap facing him.
Breathless from the surprise of what he had done, Elizabeth then laughed softly as she twined her arms around his neck, drawing his lips close to hers. “How foolish of me to even ask if you would come for me,” she breathed, as he brushed her lips with a teasing kiss, his hands on her breasts, massaging them through the soft buckskin of her dress. “I’m surprised that you are allowing me to part from you for even one second. Our time together is so wonderful, Strong Heart. So wonderful.”
She looked at him, a pout on her lips. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she complained. “I’m not sure I can stand being away from you.”
“Then do not stay behind without me,” Strong Heart urged, his hands now at the fringed hem of her dress, pushing it up her legs. “Return with me. Forget your father.”
Elizabeth’s face flushed hotly and she flung her head back so that her hair hung in silken red streamers down her back as she felt him slip his manhood into her. He began the sweet rocking rhythm.
Elizabeth moaned as she clutched Strong Heart about his neck. It felt wicked making love on a horse. Wicked doing it so close to her father’s house, where he might even now be pacing the floor in worry about her.
But her insides were burning from the passion that her beloved always evoked in her. She knew that this was his way of saying good-bye. Strong Heart was such a sensual man, such a splendid, romantic lover. He had awakened in her feelings that surely no other man could have ever awakened.
Now, as she rode him, his body thrusting his satin shaft within her, so pleasurably filling her, she could not deny that he was the answer to all of her tomorrows—her need for him perhaps even stronger than his for her.
Yes, she would return to him, for without him, she would be only half a woman.
But first, she must see her father. She could not forget that without her, her father was alone. She hoped that he could bear his loss.
Then she felt foolish for thinking that, knowing that his business was all of his tomorrows—not her.
The heat building within her made Elizabeth feel euphoric. She could tell that Strong Heart was feeling the same, for his moans of pleasure filled the air, echoing into the forest that lay on each side of them.
