Salvation's Secrets (The Loflin Legacy Prequel) (2 page)

Lone Eagle settled near the fire and Broken
Horse stepped toward a back wall, gathering a pipe before joining
them at the central fire.

“He wishes to share his pipe with you in a
show of good faith.” Handing the pipe to Lone Eagle, Broken Horse
nodded for Seth to take a drag after him.

“No fighting,” Lone Eagle said as he shook
his head side to side. His eyebrows furrowed in concern and he
swiped the air between them with the palm of his hand.

“He comes in peace and asks for no harm to
come to his people.” Broken Horse listened to Lone Eagle speak in
Comanche and turned to Seth.

“Many deer provide much to eat for The
People. Clothes and teepees made from many deer hides provide
shelter. The rest can be traded. The People prosper. We ask only
for peace.” Glancing at Seth, Broken Horse nodded. “I speak the
truth, Seth Loflin.”

The importance of the chief’s statements
wasn’t lost on Seth, even though he’d only reached his eighteenth
birthday. He’d heard the stories of massacres and devastation.
“Tell him we want peace too. The people are welcome to all the deer
they can kill. My father’s land is plentiful with wildlife. We ask
only for the safety of our people and livestock.”

Broken Horse reiterated his words for the
chief. A broad smile creased his face. Breathing a sigh of relief,
Seth nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a
woman coming toward them with a large tray of meat and cornmeal
bread. His intake of air was involuntary. It was her! The beauty
from the creek. Dressed in a buckskin dress, which skimmed her
knees, she knelt and offered him food yet kept her eyes diverted.
Her long eyelashes brushed her face like dark fringe against warm
satin.

He took the meat and a flat, unleavened
bread patty without even seeing what he held. In the fire’s light,
her skin glowed to a golden bronze. Smooth and supple, her arms
were firm and shapely.

“This is my daughter, Celia. She is Little
One to The People.” Lone Eagle squared his shoulders in pride with
the introduction.

Seth’s breath left him. Unable to do more
than nod, he gazed in awe at the lovely vision before him. “Ma’am.”
He finally managed as he nodded.

Broken Horse coughed. “You wanted to meet
her, didn’t you, Seth Loflin?”

Realizing the joke was on him, Seth flicked
a glance at a grinning Broken Horse. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Shrugging, Broken Horse’s bottom lip jutted
in a moment of thoughtful consideration. “I wanted to see your
face. That is why.” With his taunt complete, the Indian translator
smirked at his new friend across the fire. “Be sure her father
likes you first. Then you can try for the daughter.”

Seth shook his head. “Yeah, I guess you’re
right.” Feeling a bit foolish, he glanced up to find Lone Eagle
smiling and nodding at him. He’d have to agree, there wasn’t
anything to loose in making friends with Lone Eagle. Seth saw it as
a win - win for all concerned.

***

“So tell me about her.” Charles Harrington
stood at the water trough, gazing at Seth from beneath the shade of
his black Stetson. His tall, rangy body, clad in dark pants and a
leather vest over a white shirt reminded Seth of a cool, poker
faced thief. One dark eye peered out at his friend and surrogate
brother, while the other squinted against the sun. He rolled the
habitual unlit cigar that was always in his mouth from one side to
the other. Charles would enjoy the smoke when he settled down for
the night, Seth knew.

“Who?” Gathering the reins of his horse,
Seth was in no mood to fool around with vague questions from his
longtime friend. They’d grown up together pretty much under the
same roof after Charles’ paw died. Earl made sure he had a place to
lay his head, when the need arose. Charles remained a loner,
though, never dependent on anyone or anything except his own wits
and skill. It was that
skill
Seth hoped didn’t get him
killed. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.” Seth made sure he
faced away from Charles’ interrogative stare in hopes he wouldn’t
see through his lie.

“The girl.” Charles habitual, cocky grin
splayed across his face briefly before he turned to step into the
saddle. “The one that’s got you all tied in knots. You’re as
irritable as a cat with its tail caught under a rocking chair.”

Scowling at the older, more experienced
cowboy seated in the well-worn saddle, Seth merely snorted. “She
ain’t got me tied in knots.”

Like any older brother, Charles, who was
five years Seth’s senior, huffed out a breath in disbelief. “So
says you.” He bit off the end of the cigar he’d purchased in the
mercantile and glared at Seth. “You planning on telling me why
she’s eating your insides out? Or, am I gonna have to wrestle it
out of ya?”

“You can try but it ain’t gonna do you no
good. You remember, I always win.” Seth vaulted into the saddle and
yanked on the reins, steering the bay out into the dusty street.
Giving the horse a nudge with his spurs, he was galloping out of
town with Charles’ laughter following.

It wasn’t long before Shooter Creek land lay
beneath their horses’ hooves. Earl Loflin owned most of Smith
county and a large amount of the two adjoining counties. As far as
a man could see was Shooter Creek land.

Seth switched from gazing out over the land
he loved to offering up a cool stare for his best friend. “You ever
been in love, Charles?” Unable to harness the raw need in his
question, Seth managed a blank expression.

Charles’ eyebrows winged up at the question.
“No, can’t say as I have. The ladies at the saloon treat me well
enough.” He glanced at Seth. “Are you telling me that’s what’s been
wrong with you these past few days? Christ on a crutch, man! Have
you lost your mind?”

Seth frowned out into the distance watching
a dust devil kick up and dance their way. “Hell, no, I ain’t lost
my mind.” Unwilling to let Charles see how flummoxed he was, Seth
watched the dust devil dance sideways and skip the dirt into the
air.

“Maybe you better tell me what’s going on,
brother. Before you step off a cliff or some such nonsense.” With a
chuckle, Charles reached over and punched Seth in the arm.

“All right, you ain’t got to go and get
violent. Jeez.” Rubbing his arm where Charles had left a burn, he
glanced at Charles. “Hell, a man’s got urges, don’t he? I’m just
trying to decide if these urges are something more. She sure is a
looker, Charles. Man, she gets my juices going.”

“Ummm, I don’t know old man. Urges come and
go. They don’t usually cost a man his good sense. You might want to
cool your heels and coast a while. Women are trouble. Look at your
paw. He can’t keep a woman happy. What makes you think you
can?”

Seth didn’t spare Charles another cold cut
glare. Instead, he ignored him completely. “I’m gonna go see her
again.”

“Fine, I’ll ride into town with ya. The
ladies at the Silver Spur are always up for a little entertainment.
All I gotta do is flash ‘em a smile.” Charles cocked his head and
winked, his dark eyes dancing with carnal innuendo.

“I ain’t going into town.” Seth set his jaw.
The need to explain festered inside his head.

“Okay, well which ranch house you headed
to?” Charles glanced at the sun setting in the west behind the
pines. “Awe, it don’t matter which. The bunkhouse ought to have a
poker game startin’ any time now.”

“I’m going to Lone Eagle’s camp out on the
bluffs.”

Charles cut Seth a meaningful look. “Come
again?”

“You heard me.” Seth jutted his chin a
fraction. His insides wanted to churn at the look Charles shot him.
You’d have thought he’d said he was going to kill somebody.

“I thought I heard you say the Comanche camp
out on the bluffs. My hearing must be going.” With a palm, he
bumped the side of his temple pretending to dislodge his brain.

“Her name’s Celia and she’s Lone Eagle’s
daughter.” The thrumming of his heart pounded in his ears. Seth
adjusted his seat in the saddle and gazed out at the setting sun.
“I’m taking Lone Eagle that deer I killed this morning.” The
subject wasn’t negotiable. Not willing to argue with reasonable
thinking, he ignored the cocked brow Charles shot him.

“Seth, seriously, now, quit fooling around.
This ain’t nothing to make light over. What would Earl say if he
knew you were going to spend time with an Injun?”

“She’s half Comanche and half white. Her
mama died when she was a baby. Her cousin, Broken Horse told me all
about her.” His mouth curled up at the corners before he thought
better of it and turned away.

Charles huffed out a breath. “I don’t care
if she’s ninety-nine percent white, she’s got
some
Injun in
her, and so that makes her Injun in Earl’s eyes.” His dark hair
danced over his face. Charles shoved it back and settled his
Stetson more firmly in place. “Come on, Seth. You know it’s the
truth. Why go and borrow trouble? Earl’s already threatened to send
us both away if we get into any more jams.”

Seth pulled hard on Sarge’s reins. “I could
ask you the same damn question,
old man
, now couldn’t I? Why
go and borrow more trouble?” His irritation showed in the thin set
of his mouth.

The jab didn’t escape Charles. He understood
what Seth referred to, his hiring out to gun men down for a living
was probably going to get him killed sooner than later. “Fuck!”
Charles shouted the curse into the darkness and spurred his horse
to catch up.

Seth had heard enough. He galloped ahead
rather than listen to any more of his Charles’ reasoning. He may be
hell bent on seeing the Comanche half-breed but he’d be damned if
he’d take crap off of a hired gunslinger. Shaking his head, he
backtracked, regretting his thoughts immediately. Charles was like
a brother to him, deserving better than his anger. Still, how did
you make another understand what you yourself didn’t fully
understand? Gazing out, he narrowed his eyes. He craved her like
water. Her essence surrounded him. Time apart caused unimaginable
dreams and yearnings. Seth didn’t understand why he couldn’t eat,
sleep or think straight. No woman had ever caused him so much
unrest. To be with her proved an irrational, yet driving force,
which kept him going?

For a short while, the only sound was of the
horses’ hooves. The night sky began to glimmer with stars as the
last dregs of day disappeared over the horizon. Sighing, Seth
slowed his pace.

“Let’s drop it, okay? I want you to go with
me.” Besides, if anything goes wrong, you’ll know where to look for
me.” Seth tried for light with a half-cocked grin.

“Shit!” Charles swore aloud again before
nodding. “Don’t talk like that.” He rubbed at the back of his neck.
“All right. But, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Enough already!” Seth’s snarl echoed into
the darkness. “I won’t point out your stupidity if you don’t point
out mine – agreed?”

Charles let out a huff. “Agreed.”

They came upon two Comanche braves on
horseback not far from the camp’s firelight. In the shadowy
reflection from the fire, Seth recognized Red Bear’s tall, broad
frame with the sash tied at his waist. Digging deep for his
bearing, he acknowledged the brave and tipped his hat as well.

The Comanche’s stare, filled with contempt,
boded ill. He was up to no good.

“Cordial reception, ain’t it?” Sarcasm
dripped form Charles’ words. “I see you’ve been your warm, suave
self, with these people. Do I need to check my scalp before we
leave here tonight?”

“Enough, Charles. This isn’t the time for
your crap.” Irritated by more than Red Bear’s greeting or Charles
cynicism, Seth searched the area for Celia. His gut told him she
was being coy by keeping him waiting. His mind told him her father
should run him off the first chance he got. Not wanting to agree
with Charles, he had to question what he was doing coming back to
the Comanche camp. It was ludicrous to believe he had a chance with
a Comanche chief’s daughter, much less a chance in hell of
convincing Earl he was in love.

Coming from her father’s tent, she smiled as
he approached. Her long, dark hair glowed like polished jet in the
fire’s light. There, in her eyes, shined the pleasure in seeing
him. Her smile did wonders for his doubts, which dissipated like
fog leaving the need for her at the forefront of his thoughts. No
woman had ever affected him so. As their gazes locked, Charles
released a whistle.

“Christ almighty, Seth. I see what you mean.
Damn, if she ain’t the most exotic creature I’ve ever seen. Those
eyes of hers could stop a man’s heart.”

Cutting his buddy a quick glance, Seth
admitted, “Yeah, I know. I died the first time we met.” Huffing out
a breath, he shook his head and grinned at Charles. “You sure have
a way with words, old man.” Seth nimbly slid from Sarge, his
horse’s. The horse neighed his greeting and had Seth reaching back
to give him a rub on the nose.

In the firelight, she smiled, warm and
inviting. She took his hand in hers and led him back to her
father’s tent. “You better follow, Charles. Your gun is gonna draw
attention. Don’t know when Red Bear will be back either.” Seth
allowed Celia to lead the way as Charles glanced around, laying a
hand on the revolver tied to his right leg.

Inside, the low burning fire welcomed him as
Lone Eagle rose to meet them. “My daughter is pleased you have come
to visit, Seth Loflin.” He nodded at the blankets lying around the
fire. “Sit and we’ll break bread.” His dark features relaxed as the
newcomers settled facing him. Celia placed a plate of warm flat
bread and meat in front of them both. Lone Eagle waited until she’d
sat down. “Who is your companion, Seth Loflin?”

Startled by his slip in social etiquette,
Seth stopped in mid bite before slapping Charles on the back hard
enough to make him wince. “This is my friend, Charles Harrington.
He’s more like my brother, actually.” Flicking a glance at Charles,
Seth tried to play off the remark as casual, confident Charles
understood. He smiled broadly for the chief.