Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (26 page)

I
ASCENDED TO THE TOP OF THE CUT BLUFF THIS
MORNING, FROM WHENCE I HAD A MOST DELIGHTFUL VIEW OF THE COUNTRY, THE WHOLE
OF WHICH, EXCEPT THE VALLEY FORMED BY
THE MISSOURI, IS VOID OF TIMBER OR UNDER
BRUSH, EXPOSING TO THE FIRST GLANCE OF
THE SPECTATOR IMMENCE HERDS OF BUFFALO,
ELK, DEER, AND ANTELOPE FEEDING IN ONE
COMMON AND BOUNDLESS PASTURE.

—
Meriwether Lewis

14

The next morning dawned bright and clear. The sky overhead was a deep blue. The foliage seemed to sparkle with new life, washed clean by the rains of the previous day. The Indians were busy packing up the supplies and disassembling the tents. Campfires were being extinguished, and the men were preparing the horses for the day's journey.

Mara smiled and waved at Jeffery, who was leading a gray mare. He stopped in front of her, and kissed her cheek. "Your new mount, my lady," he said, giving her a mock bow.

"That is not my horse. Where is Blanco?"

"Tajarez feels that he needs a rest after his accident yesterday. He hopes you will accept Taro as a substitute."

In truth Tajarez had decided that the stallion Mara rode was too much horse for her. Jeffery had tried to convince him that Mara was capable of handling her own horse, but Tajarez had stood firm in his decision to mount Mara on a gentle mare. Knowing his sister as he did, Jeffery knew if he told her Tajarez thought her horse unsuitable she would have ridden him just for spite. He knew that something was wrong between Tajarez and Mara, but neither had confided in him.

"Where is my saddle?" Mara asked, looking the horse over and running her hands over the flanks. "I would have loved this horse when I was five. This is a mount for a child, not for me."

"As to your saddle, it was damaged in your fall yesterday and cannot be repaired. You will have to ride as the Indian women do."

Mara stared at her brother. "You mean astride, like a man?”

He shrugged his shoulders. "There is no help for it. There is no way to acquire a lady's sidesaddle here in the wilderness."

Her face brightened. "Help me mount, Jeffery. I want to see what it feels like to ride astride."

He gave her a hand up, and the whole camp was rewarded by the sight of white petticoats.

"This will never do, Jeffery. I cannot pull my gown down." She was struggling to cover her legs.

Jeffery walked around the horse, studying the problem. "Perhaps you should ask Sasha to let you wear one of her buckskin things. They seem to work quite well for her."

"I could never do that. They look lovely on Sasha, but I would feel practically naked dressed in buckskin."

"No more naked than you are at the moment with your bare legs showing."

"I will ask Sasha to lend me one of her dresses," she said, not at all certain it was the thing to do. Jeffery helped her from the mare and watched as she went in search of Sasha.

When Mara joined him a short time later, she was wearing one of Sasha's doeskin dresses that came just below her knees, and moccasins that fitted snugly about her knees. She felt strange. The soft leather hugged her body, outlining her curves, giving testimony to her beautiful shape.

Palomas helped her mount. She felt very uncomfortable and hoped she would grow used to riding astride. Jeffery teased her lightly about her appearance, but even he had to admit her borrowed garb was very becoming on her.

"I thought I would ride along with you and keep you company. Would you like that?"

"I would like it above all else."

He heaved a sigh of relief. She was unaware of the added guard that surrounded her. She did not seem to be at all suspicious.

When they rode away from the campsite she was surrounded by not only her brother and Palomas, but Anias and two others as well. Tajarez was nowhere to be seen, but that did not surprise Mara. After yesterday, she was in no mood to face him. Her hurt still ran too deep, and her anger was too close to the surface.

It was an uncomfortable day's ride where Mara was concerned. Every muscle in her body ached, and she hurt in places she had never known existed. When they at last reached the new campsite, Mara felt she could not have lasted one more mile. She threw herself down on the fur rug and groaned in agony.

Sasha gave Mara some sweet-smelling herbs and told her they would work wonders when applied to sore muscles. "The prince has asked that you eat with him tonight, Mara. Shall I tell him you will join him soon?"

"No," Mara said, sitting up. "Tell him I do not want to eat. Tell him I do not feel well."

"I am sorry that you are feeling bruised. Maybe tomorrow you will feel better. The medicine should be a help to you." Sasha left her to report to Tajarez.

Tajarez had listened to Palomas's report of the meeting that had taken place between Anias and Tanka the night before.

"You heard nothing that was said?" Tajarez asked him.

"No, but I am very suspicious."

Tajarez rose from where he had been sitting and looked out the tent opening. "I know you would not accuse my cousin falsely, but it grieves me to think that a man whom I have loved as a brother would betray me. No, it is unthinkable." He turned back to Palomas. "I suppose it is possible that Tanka might have had a hand in it. I may just pay her a little visit later on tonight. There are ways of finding out the truth. If I find out she was responsible, she will die a long and painful death."

Tajarez saw Sasha approach. "Where is Mara, little cousin? Did she not come with you?"

"She is not feeling well, my prince. In fact, she does not wish to eat at all."

"Did you know about this, Palomas?" Tajarez asked.

"I think she is sore from the ride today. I noticed she seemed uncomfortable, but she did not complain."

"I will see her for myself," Tajarez said, already halfway out the tent. Sasha and Palomas followed at a discreet distance. It would do no harm to let Tajarez see Mara for only a few moments, Palomas thought. He knew that there were problems between the two of them and he wanted to give them a little time alone to try and settle what was wrong. He stood by the entrance of Mara's tent to keep all others away.

Mara pulled the doeskin dress over her head, then she removed her undergarments. She folded them neatly and placed them where she could easily reach them in the morning. She examined her legs to see if there were bruises on them, but could see nothing. Reaching for the salve Sasha had given her, she started applying it to her sore muscles.

Mara heard someone pull the tent flap open. Thinking it was Sasha returning, she smiled, but the smile froze on her face when she saw Tajarez enter.

He stood motionless for a moment. His eyes moved over her naked body. Mara held her breath. She knew she should cover herself, but she felt unable to move.

Tajarez looked at her full, rounded breasts, then slowly his eyes traveled downward, taking in every soft curve. When he looked into her green eyes, it seemed he was making love to her although he had not touched her physically. His eyes were caressing her body. "You are more beautiful than I had imagined," he said softly. He took a step toward her, then paused: "Do you know what you are doing to me?"

Mara felt an ache inside her own body. She shook her head, not knowing how to answer him. Slowly she raised her arms as though beseeching him to hold her.

Tajarez felt his control snap. He moved across the tent and gathered her into his arms. His hands moved over her silky body. He was almost on the brink of madness. "Mara, Mara, my beloved. How long I have wanted to hold you like this. You have haunted me for so long."

Mara felt herself go weak in his arms. "Tajarez, hold me, love me," she begged, her anger forgotten, washed aside by her passion and her love for him.

His lips crushed hers as his hands moved over her hips, pulling her tightly against him. "I want you, beloved. If I die for it, I cannot stop myself."

"Oh, Tajarez, I thought you did not want me as your wife."

Mara could have said nothing that would have stopped him more quickly than the words she spoke. If he were to take her now she would never be his wife. With inner strength he did not know he possessed, he pushed her from him. As before, he used anger against her to save them both. "Put your clothes on, Mara. Do you want every man in the camp to see you?"

She blinked in astonishment. He handed her the nightgown he found lying on the robe. "I have known many women who try and trap a man with their bodies, Mara, but it is a role you play very badly."

She held the nightgown in front of her to cover her nakedness. "You did not seem so immune a moment ago, Tajarez.

"I came only to see how you were feeling." His voice did not betray the pain revealed in his dark eyes or the restraint he was keeping over his desire to kiss away the pain he knew she was feeling.

"Leave me, Tajarez, and do not concern yourself on my behalf." She slipped her nightgown over her head. "Love is not supposed to hurt, Tajarez. It is supposed to heal. Maybe we are not right for each other. It would seem that I have a higher regard for you than you do for me. I always imagined when I was married my husband would love me and respect me, but it seems you do neither. Please leave me now. I want to be alone."

He looked at her. She looked so young and vulnerable. Had he been wrong? Maybe in punishing himself he had hurt her too deeply. "I will leave you for now because you are upset, but we will talk tomorrow, and I will explain some things to you. Maybe I should already have done so. If in my neglect I have hurt you, I am sorry, but you are wrong when you say I do not love you."

She wiped the tears from her face and looked upward. "Please go, Tajarez."

"Not before you tell me how you are feeling. That is why I came, remember?"

She laughed without humor. "I feel like I have been thrown from a horse. I feel like I rode all day without a saddle. I feel like my husband thinks I am not worthy of his illustrious self. Does that answer your question, Tajarez?"

"You are tired and upset. I will leave you now." He swept out of the tent as quickly as he had entered, leaving a heartbroken Mara.

She lay down and curled up on her robe, lost in her misery. She and Tajarez had come from two different worlds. Would they ever understand each other? Mara did not know that Tajarez stood outside her tent, feeling every bit as lost and alone as she felt.

He had hurt her when all he really wanted was to love her. He spotted Tanka across the camp. He watched as she went into her tent. He might as well find out if she was behind Mara's mishap yesterday. He quickened his steps. He would have his answer tonight.

Anias saw Tajarez enter Tanka's tent. Now was the chance he had been waiting for. He noticed Palomas talking with Jeffery Golden in front of Tajarez's tent. Anias made his way to Mara's tent without being observed, and called to his sister. "Sasha, I bring word from the prince."

Sasha stuck her head out the opening.

"The prince wants to see the Golden One at once in Tanka's tent."

"I do not understand."

"It is not your place to understand. Just tell her to hurry, and come alone."

"Yes, I will, but can I not go with her? Palomas said I was not to leave her."

"Foolish girl! Do you take orders from Palomas or the prince:

"I will tell her." She quickly went inside to relay to Mara what Anias had said.

"Why would Tajarez want me to go to this woman's tent?"

"I do not know, but he said to hurry."

Mara dressed quickly. She wondered what could be so important that he would send for her at this hour. Was he sorry for what had transpired between them that afternoon? She slipped into her boots.

"Anias will be waiting to escort you."

Mara joined Anias and was surprised when he took her arm and led her to the back side of the camp instead of across the compound. She did not know Anias feared being discovered before he could complete his plan.

Tajarez had entered Tanka's tent. She had just removed her moccasins and was preparing to retire. "Tajarez, I am surprised to see you." She could hardly believe he had come to her at last. "I am pleased you have come to see me. Can I serve you in some way?"

He smiled, feeling sick inside for the part he must play, but there was no other way to get the information he sought, short of torture, and if she were innocent, he did not wish to deal harshly with her.

In the past he had enjoyed Tanka's company. She was beautiful, and very wise in the ways to please a man, but now that he knew Mara, he felt disgusted by her. "You always did know how to please a man, Tanka."

She moved toward him. "I have missed you, Tajarez. I wondered how long it would be before you missed me." She ran her hands over his shoulders. "You have too many clothes on, Tajarez."

"So do you," he told her, wondering if he would be able to go through with his plan. He lifted his shirt over his head, and watched as she removed her buckskin dress.