Enchanted Ecstasy (14 page)

Maleaha drew in her breath at his perception. She stood up, ready to face his anger. It was not anger she saw in his face, but more of a troubled look.

"You are not angry with me?"

"Yes, I am angry with you, but not for the reason you may suppose. I am angry that you would place yourself in a position to be used."

Maleaha was stunned by his statement. "I thought you would be displeased because I used you to try and fool Mangas."

"Maleaha, it seems this time you are caught between the Indian and the white worlds, and both would try to use you."

There was a softness in his eyes that she had never seen before, and it made her all the more confused.

"I knew what I was letting myself in for when I agreed to come along."

"What are your feelings for Mangas?"

"I respect him." She lowered her head, unable to meet his probing glance. "I also fear him."

"At last I have found something you are afraid of," he said grimly.

"I do not fear that Mangas will harm me," she said quickly.

"What do you fear from him then?"

"I . . . Mangas wants me for his wife."

"And you do not fancy yourself as his wife?"

"I do . . . not love him in that way."

"I see. Is there another man who holds that place in your heart, say, Clay Madason?"

Maleaha raised her head and stared, not into his face, but instead at the brass buttons on the front of his blue uniform.

"I love Clay, of course, as I would love a brother."

Kane placed his finger under her chin and raised her face up to his. "A very enviable position, no doubt." With his free hand he touched her cheek softly. "I wonder if I would also rate the love of a brother, as Clay Madason does?"

Maleaha shook her head. "If you were my brother, I would ask that you be adopted out."

Kane smiled, "It is just as well. I have no wish to be your brother." He studied her beautiful face. "No, I do not wish to be your brother.''

Maleaha wished she could ask him what he did want from her, but at that moment the coffee pot she had placed on the fire chose to boil over, thus saving her question, and his answer.

Maleaha quickly reached for the pot but Kane forestalled her. "Silly girl, do you want to burn yourself?" He pushed her aside, and using a stick, moved the pot off the fire.

Maleaha wondered why she felt like crying. Surely it had nothing to do with the fact that Lamas's coffee was not fit to drink now.

Once Kane had removed the pot from the fire he stood up and looked at her. ' 'It is my guess that you enjoy being the belle of Santa Fe far too much to give it up and be tied to one man. Am I right?"

Maleaha bristled. "Perhaps I am not unlike you in that respect. I have heard it said that you break a new heart every week."

"I was not aware that my personal life was of any interest to you, Miss Deveraux," he drawled.

Maleaha turned her back to him. What had she said to make him angry again, she wondered? She was growing weary of this constant war that went on between the two of them.

"Miss Deveraux, it is not too late to change your mind," Kane said, turning her to face him once more. "You can get on your horse and ride away right now, and no one will fault you for it, least of all me."

"No. I knew the Robertson family who were killed by the Arapaho. I want to see their murderers punished."

"All right, but don't say that you didn't have the opportunity to withdraw."

Maleaha watched him as he turned his back on her and walked away. She remembered Salador's once telling her that it was not considered bad for one to tell a golden lie.

"What is a golden lie, Salador?" she had asked.

"A golden lie is silence. It is when you do not voice the truth, but keep it to yourself," he had told her.

That was what she must do now. She would tell the golden lie. She would remain silent about her love for Kane. He must never know that she loved him with all her heart.

11

Mangas walked toward Maleaha. His dark face had a foreboding look on it. "So, Little Flower, once more you come among your mother's people with the white man," he said, his eyes burning into hers.

Maleaha slid from her horse and stood before him. "Mangas, I have brought Major Benedict here for a good reason. I hope you will listen to him and consider what he asks of you."

He was silent for a moment. His dark eyes seemed to become even darker as he looked at Kane. "I will listen to this man, but only because you ask it of me, Maleaha."

Maleaha turned to Kane and told him to dismount.

When they were inside Mangas's teepee, Maleaha asked Kane to be seated. ' 'Tell Mangas I am honored that he has consented to talk with me," Kane told her.

"Have you heard about the latest raids, Mangas?" Maleaha asked, not bothering to tell him what Kane had said, since he understood for himself.

"Why did your father refuse my offer of marriage to you, Maleaha?" Mangas said in a quiet voice that was laced with anger.

Maleaha found herself blushing, and lowered her head. "I love another man, Mangas. My father would not wish me to marry without love."

She avoided Mangas's eyes, but she heard the sadness in his voice. "I would have you for my wife, Maleaha."

Not knowing how to answer him, and feeling fear at his words, she turned to Kane. Kane sensed she was frightened and he spoke quickly, trying to draw Mangas's attention away from her.

"Tell Mangas about the latest raids and the death of the Robertson family, and also that we would be grateful if he would help us find these Arapahos."

"Mangas, the Arapaho have taken the lives of a white family, and this saddens me. I think they are having fun eluding the army and mocking the Jojoba."

"Why should you think they mock us?"

' 'They trespass on Jojoba land to do their mischief, and do not forget they tried to implicate you when these raids first started. If it were not for Major Benedict's intervention, you would still be suspect. I would hope that you would help the army drive the Arapaho back to the Colorados."

"You are wise beyond your years, Maleaha. I would like to have a wife who is as wise as she is beautiful," Mangas said softly. "I have waited a long time for you to grow up, Little Flower.''

"Mangas, I love this man, Kanen Benedict."

"Have you lain with him, Maleaha? Does he also love you?"

Maleaha tried to look into Mangas's eyes, knowing she must convince him that she and Kane had been intimate. "Yes," she said lowering her head, knowing he would be able to see the lie in her eyes.

"I do not believe you, Maleaha. You still have the look of innocence. I would not like it if I find you have not spoken the truth to me."

Kane watched the exchange of words between Maleaha and Mangas, knowing they were not discussing the raid by the tone of Mangas's voice and the look in his dark eyes. Kane imagined what must be transpiring between them. He had been a fool to allow Maleaha to come with him. He should have insisted she remain at Deveraux Ranch where she would be safe. He decided to try once more to distract Mangas.

"Tell Mangas the army is prepared to pay him if he will help us drive the Arapaho from the New Mexico Territory."

"Would you consider helping the army for pay, Mangas?" Maleaha asked, glad to talk about anything that would take his mind off her.

"I have no use for the white man's money," he said in a voice that plainly showed his contempt.

She turned to Kane, "Mangas says he has no use for the money, major."

"Tell him we are prepared to pay him in horses and cattle. The amount can be worked out to his satisfaction."

"Mangas, would you consider this?"

"I love the color of your eyes, Maleaha. I believe I would never tire of looking into your eyes,'' Mangas said caressingly. "I would like to see your eyes reflected in the eyes of my firstborn son." He reached out and touched her face softly.

Maleaha instinctively reached for Kane's hand and clasped it firmly. "The major is a very jealous man, Mangas."

"Dead men cannot feel jealousy, Maleaha," Mangas told her in a menacing voice.

"If you harmed the man I love, I would hate you," she warned him, her fear for the man she loved wiping out her caution. "Do not threaten me with his life, Mangas."

Mangas stood up and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "I will speak to you no more today. You and this white man will remain here until I have had time to think."

He walked purposefully out of the teepee, and Maleaha turned frightened eyes to Kane.

"What has occurred, Miss Deveraux?"

"I am not sure, but Mangas has ordered us to remain in camp while he decides what to do."

Kane watched as Maleaha paced up and down the width of the teepee. Then she went over to the tent opening and looked out.

"Why are you upset? Tell me what Mangas said to you."

"I do not want to speak of it, major."

"I can see that you are frightened. I will not allow Mangas to harm you. You are under the protection of the United States Army."

She laughed, "If Mangas decides that I have lied to him, not you or the army could save me."

He was about to ask her to explain when Lamas poked his head through the teepee and spoke to Maleaha.

"Mangas is angry with you, Maleaha. I do not know what he will do, but he went to see your aunt. Then he rode out of camp. It would be better if you go to your aunt now, and I will keep the white man with me."

"What do you think he will do, Lamas?"

"I do not know, but I shall keep my ears and eyes open. If it were possible, I would take you away from here, but we are being watched. It is best to act as if nothing is wrong."

Maleaha turned to Kane. He had never seen her so frightened. Not even the day they had been attacked by the Arapaho. He watched as she clasped and unclasped her hands.

"Major, Mangas is very angry with me. I . . . told him that I am your woman. I am sorry. It seemed the best thing to do at the time. You see, he wants me for his wife, and I am frightened," she admitted.

"Did he believe you when you told him you were my woman?"

"I do not think so."

"Was that the reason you slept beside me last night?"

"Yes, and apparently Mangas's spies told him we slept together, but he is still not convinced."

"Miss Deveraux, as long as I live I will never let him take you. You can trust me in this."

She looked into his silver eyes, and saw what? He was a brave man, but she knew he would not stand a chance against Mangas while they were both his prisoners.

"I would never allow you to be harmed on my account, major. I only hope I have not damaged the mission by refusing Mangas."

"Will Mangas leave you alone if he believes me to be your . . . lover?" Kane said in a deep voice.

"Yes, but he is not easy to fool, major."

Kane reached out and took her chin in his hand and studied her beautiful face. "It would seem you have been exploited by both sides: by Mangas, because he wants you as his wife, and by the army, because they want your help to catch the Arapaho."

"You are not angry with me because I told Mangas I am your woman?"

He raised a dark eyebrow, "Perhaps I should ask if you are angry with me. If I had convinced you to . . . be my . . . lady friend, as I tried to, you could have been honest with Mangas when you told him you were my woman." His voice was deep and his silver eyes probed deeply into her green ones.

"I should be angry with you, major. At least Mangas offered me marriage."

Kane laughed, "but you turned us both down. I wonder if there is any man who could get you to agree to be his woman?"

Oh yes, she thought, I would be your woman if you asked me to be. "That is not our problem at the moment. You must go with Lamas and stay with him."

"Where will you be?"

"I am going to visit with my aunt and uncle. I will inform you immediately should something happen." If I am able to, she added to herself.

"Why is it I feel I have not been in charge since that day I met you?" Kane said as he swept out of the teepee and found Lamas waiting for him.

Maleaha hugged her aunt, who seemed troubled as she led Maleaha into her teepee. After they had eaten, her aunt spoke quietly, as if she were afraid of being overheard.

"Mangas is very angry with you, Maleaha. When he returns he will have decided what to do about you."

"I do not want to be his woman, my aunt."

"Is it true that you belong to the white man who accompanied you here?"

"No, I spoke falsely when I told Mangas I was the major's woman."

"I love you, Maleaha, and it is because I love you that I tell you that Mangas intends to set spies on you and the white man tonight to see if you spoke the truth. If he discovers your deception, I do not know what he will do. I think he will force you to be his woman, if he thinks you have tricked him."

"What can I do? I am frightened."

Her aunt took her hand and looked sadly into her eyes. "You must go to the white man and lie with him tonight."

Maleaha felt hot tears behind her eyes. "I cannot, I would be so ashamed."

"Maleaha, you must. It is the only way. Will the white man help you?"

"I do not know. Will I have to allow him to . . ."

"Daughter of my dead sister, I wish I could help you, but in this I fear the white man is the only one who can help you." She kissed Maleaha's cheek. "You must ask him to take you as his woman tonight. I am sad to tell you this, but it is the only way to stop Mangas."

' 'I cannot bear it. The major will never understand why I would offer myself to him. He will think I have done this kind of thing before."

"No, he will be able to tell that you have never been with a man before."

Maleaha looked at her. "I do not know if I will be able to go through with it, but I suppose if it is the only way, I do not have any choice."

Her aunt nodded in agreement. "It is the only way to keep Mangas from taking you."

"Do you think the major will be in any danger if I go to him?"

"No. I believe Mangas loves you. I do not think he will harm the white man if he believes you want him."

"I do not know why Mangas loves me, my aunt. I do not like the idea of deceiving him. I like him a great deal."

"I have known for a long time that Mangas loves you. It is the reason he has never taken a wife. I think he always thought you would belong to him someday. I know in my heart you would never be happy living with the Jojoba. This is why you must not hesitate tonight when you go to the white man. He will know what to do."

"Is it . . . will it be very painful?"

"Only at first."

Maleaha could no longer stop the flow of tears. She would be pushed to her limit tonight. She would be forced to humble herself before the man she loved. Kane thought of her as nothing more than an irritant, and the fact that he had offered to make her his mistress before did not help. Would she be able to convince him of her reasons for seeking him out?

"Tell me what I must do, my aunt."

"I shall arrange it so the white man has a teepee to himself, and when it is dark you must go to him. When Mangas returns he must find you with this man."

"What would happen should Mangas return, and I were not with the major?"

"He would make you his woman tonight, and no one could stop him."

Maleaha stood up. "I will do whatever I have to, my aunt."

Kane sat on the rough buffalo robe. He had been given food and water, but was not allowed to leave the teepee. When he had looked out a moment ago there had been a man standing guard just out front who had motioned for him to go back inside.

Very little light penetrated the teepee as night descended. He lay back on the buffalo robe. He had heard stories of the different Indian tribes having lice-infested living quarters, but this tribe seemed to be the exception. They seemed to be very clean. The buffalo robe on which he was lying was as clean as the teepee.

Sitting up, he unbuttoned his jacket and removed it. It was hot inside the teepee, and he wished he could sleep outside under the stars. He had no idea what was going on at this moment. A short while ago a woman had come into the tent and Lamas had left with her. Where was Maleaha? Could she be with Mangas? He cursed himself as a fool for allowing her to come with him. He had known Mangas wanted her. Jonas had told him about the Indian chiefs asking for her. Kane knew he must try and find Maleaha no matter what the consequences might be. He reached for his jacket, with the intention of searching for her.