Dreams: Part Two (24 page)

“What’s that?“ Margaret Fulbrook frowned at the strip of leather in Colby’s hand.

“The latest in modern pain control techniques for amazons in labor,“ Colby said. “Notice the teeth marks?“

“It looks like a dog collar!“ Margaret exclaimed.

“It is,“ Brandon said behind her. “Diana had it between her teeth to keep herself from crying out.“

“I was afraid Eddy would hear me and find the entrance to the grotto,“ Diana explained.

“Good heavens.“ Margaret Fulbrook smiled. “Colby isn’t going to be the only local celebrity around here, Diana.“

“Just what I always wanted to be,“ Diana murmured. “A legend in my own time. Ill have to be honest, however. If I had to do it over again, I’d make darn sure I did it the way it’s supposed to be done: in a hospital, with all the latest state-of-the-art medical technology. And painkillers. Lots of painkillers. The amazon bit is for the birds.“

But even as she said the words, she knew she had done it the way it was supposed to have been done, and when she met Colby’s eyes she knew he understood that, too. When he had carried her out of the grotto last night she sensed something had changed in the small, hidden chamber. A sense of peace had descended.

Colby’s hand tightened around hers. “I love you,“ he said, heedless of the others in the room.

“Practice makes perfect,“ Diana whispered.

At last he stood at the entrance to the cave. The roaring water was at his back, a heavy veil of glistening light that
was no longer tinged with his blood. He walked slowly toward the hidden grotto, following the summons that had
drawn him here.

He moved into the tiny, secret chamber and saw her waiting for him. She smiled at him with love in her eyes. She
was holding the naked babe in her arms. Joy flooded through him because he knew that now they were free. She had
broken the chains he had, in his arrogant rage, foolishly placed on all of them. He put out his hand.

She put her hand in his, confidence and trust and love welling up within her, washing away alt the old fear and
fury. They had been given a second chance, and she knew that neither of them would throw it aside. They knew now
that they belonged together.

They belonged together for they dreamed as one.

He led her out of the hidden grotto, down the path behind the falls and into the light of a new dawn.

When they were safe outside, the warrior peered more closely at the naked infant and then he laughed at the
wonderful joke the gods had played on him. The babe was not the son he had expected. It was a girl child.

When he looked down into the woman’s eyes, he saw his own laughter reflected there and he knew he had
chosen well.

He had vowed to teach her that she could not escape her destiny as a woman, but it was he who had learned the
most important lesson. She had taught him how to love.

Colby Came awake and knew at once that Diana was also awake. He sought her hand in the darkness.

“You, too?“ he asked softly.

“Yes. It was different this time, though. There was a finished quality to it.“

“The urgency was gone,“ he agreed. “I finally made it to the grotto. I mean, he finally made it to the grotto.“

“And I was there, waiting. Or she was there. With the baby.“ Diana turned toward him, nestling close. “He was surprised that it was a girl.“

Colby smiled. “I know. He saw it as a sort of cosmic joke on him. But he loves the baby. Almost as much as he loves the infant’s mother. This time we both dreamed the exact same dream, didn’t we?“

“Sounds like it. We set her free, didn’t we, Colby?“

“We set them both free. He was as chained as she was. They were bound together. They still are, but in a different way.“ Colby’s hand tightened around hers. “Just as you and I are bound together.“

“Nobody would believe us if we tried to explain what happened in the cave.“

“No, and I’m not sure how much of it I believe, myself. But it makes a good story. Well tell it to Tabitha when she’s older.“

“Do you think well go on having dreams about die cave now that we’ve lifted the curse?“

Colby gathered her against him, lost in her soft, luminous smile. “Honey, you might as well face it. You and I are going to be sharing our dreams for the rest of our lives.“