AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He held her there in his arms for a long time before he let her breathe again, but Riley was past the point of caring. Her arms went around him and she pulled him even closer.
Then, without warning, he set her away from him and stared into her heavenly blue eyes. “Riley, Riley, no matter what I did, where I went, who I saw, nothing could replace you.”
Riley blushed. “I’ve missed you too, Sam.”
“Look, don’t stare at me as though you want me to kiss you some more, ‘cause I do. I want to hold you in my arms all night. I won’t compromise you, Riley,” he said staunchly.
“You won’t?” She sounded as though she wanted that compromise.
“Not yet. I want to ask you somethin’. It’s important. Now, I’ve told you I love you, so that means I’ve figured out a way for us to be together…”
She started to come back into his arms, but he held her hands at arm’s length. “Let me finish, while I can, Riley.”
“Okay,” she cried shakily.
“It would be a big step for you, Riley.”
“Oh…tell me,” she begged.
“If you really feel the same about me, as I do about you, then there’s a way. But it won’t be without its problems from time to time. We’d be blind not to know it. But…well, I can’t live without you with me Riley, I know that now. I want you. I want to marry you. Still, there is only one way that will happen. We’d have to live at the Indian Village, with my sister and her family. Now…I know that is a big…”
Riley smiled now, and grabbed herself. “Oh Sam…do you mean it? Do you love me that much?”
Sam sighed heavily. “I tried hard not to. But you got under my skin. Can you live with a black man?”
“I can live with you, Sam…” She smiled and leaned closer. “And I know one thing for sure, I can’t live without you and be happy.”
“But the ranch…?” he questioned.
“Means nothing to me, without you. I’ll let Miss Tilda run it the way she wants…”
“You’d do that? For me?” he asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.
“For us, Sam, for us,” she admitted, her eyes shining into his.
“It’s a lot to give up, Riley,” Sam said.
She smiled, and came to stand against him. “Kiss me, Sam,” she said shyly.
“Riley…” he whispered just as his lips claimed hers in a kiss that sealed their bargain. His lips moved over hers like a whisper, over and over, until they were both in a frenzy.
“Keeping my hands off you ‘til we’re married is gonna be hell,” he whispered as he picked her up in his arms and laid her on the to
p of the bed.
“Married?” She gasped.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Burning Tree said he’d marry us.” Sam smiled into her eyes.
“He can do that?” she asked with wonder.
“He insists. It seems he’s had an eye on us for some time. You see, Indians have visions.” Sam laughed.
“I can’t wait to be your wife, Sam…it’s like a dream come true. And…I can’t wait to have your children,” she said again in a whisper.
“Good Lord, Riley, I can hardly wait to make you mine…” he said and kissed her like the treasure she’d become to him.
Late that night after they’d satiated their love full of kisses, Sam hung the dream catcher above her bed, kissed her gently on the lips and looked deep into her eyes. “Ask for no tomorrows Riley, but always ask for todays…”
