Savage Conquest (33 page)

One man shook his head and informed the others,
"Them grizzlies are known to travel in pairs. I ain't
going in there after no mauled bodies. Let that
trapper bury 'em like she said.'

One of the crew members said the wood was cut
and nearly loaded, and they needed to get underway.
Several others agreed there was no need to fetch the
bodies or to waste more time. Before noon, the
steamer was moving again, with one last stop before
Pierre.

Miranda was sitting beside Lucas's bunk when he
came around, his head freshly bandaged. When he
groaned and touched the sensitive area, Miranda
caught his hand and warned him to leave it alone.
When he was fully alert, she revealed the events
which had taken place, confessing her other meetings with the Indian warrior to him, all except the
kisses and embraces which they had shared at that
second stop. She also related the false tale she had
told their fellow passengers.

Lucas was astonished by her behavior. "You mean
he's been following the steamer to meet with you?"
he asked incredulously.

Miranda replied honestly, "I don't know, Luke.
He just appeared each time. If he hadn't, we'd be dead
now," she reminded him.

"Considering the tales I've been told about these
warriors, it sounds crazy. You don't know his name
or tribe?" he probed.

"Neither. He always came and went so quickly and secretly. As I said, I fainted before the fight with the
bear was over. I assume he wasn't injured because he
brought us near the river to be found." She explained
the precarious riddle as best she could.

"But why did you go back?" he demanded.

"I had to know if he survived. He could have been
wounded. He could have used his remaining energy
to help us. He saved our lives, Luke. He was kind and
gentle. He never harmed me and I wasn't afraid of
him."

Lucas couldn't debate her statements. But he
fretted over the identity and motives of the warrior.
Still, the man had spared her innocence and saved her
life. He cautioned himself to watch her more closely.
He had almost gotten her raped and killed.

"I'11 be fine, Randy. Why don't you get some rest or
write Mandy and Reis," he suggested to distract her
from her thoughts of the warrior.

"I wonder what they're doing right now," she
murmured aloud. She would have cringed in
renewed fear if she had known the answer to that
question, for matters were just as complex and
dangerous back in Alexandria .. .

After Reis persuaded Amanda to unlock the door,
he poured out his soul to her, telling her nearly
everything he knew or felt. Comprehending how
important she was to him and how much he loved
her, Amanda's anguish and doubts fled. He ended his
confession with a declaration of love. "I love you and
need you as no other person in my life, Mandy. What
would I be without you? My life would have no joy or
meaning. Please forgive me for hurting you. I
promise to do my best never to hurt you again."

Tears sparkled in her light blue eyes. "I love you
too, Reis. I suppose this situation is difficult for both
of us, a new marriage and a critical mission at the
same time. I'll try to be more understanding and
patient," she vowed softly, smiling into his expression of relief.

"That's a good suggestion for both of us. But I
don't want to mislead you. Until this case is over, there will be times like this week when I can't get to
you, love, and times when I can't explain what's
happening. But I will be as open with you as
possible."

"Now that I know more about this case and your
duties, I'll accept your rules. I don't have to like
them, but I will try to follow them," she added with
joyful laughter. "You were right, my darling; there
was so much I didn't know. But I love you and trust
you.,,

Reis's mouth closed over hers in a tender kiss of
love and commitment. When his lips brushed back
and forth across hers, she murmured hoarsely, "Make
love to me. I've missed you so."

Reis discarded his boots and clothes, then slipped
the gown straps from her shoulders and let the
garment slide down her silky flesh to the floor. His
smoldering eyes flickered over her tawny curls and
touched each feature upon her face. His gaze became
as a warm liquid flowing down her trembling frame,
from face to bare feet, over curves and planes that
ached to be sensuously invaded. He placed his hands
on her shoulders, then leisurely moved them down
her arms to grasp her quivering hands. He pulled her
toward him, their nude bodies melting together
before they sank to the bed behind them.

As they fell entwined into the arms of love, they
were oblivious to all but each other and their
cravings. Their love and passion were rich and deep,
given and returned. He murmured words of endearment into her ears, inspiring feverish responses to him. Her hands caressed his firm, smooth body, and
she touched him gently, then almost savagely as her
hunger increased. He pulled her closer and tighter to
him.

He nibbled at her lips, favoring the fuller lower
one. He fondled her in daring new ways, touches
which enflamed her to a matching boldness. He
seemed to explore and conquer each part of her body,
as she did his. He teased and tantalized her with lips
and hands until she was tensed and warmed all over,
begging to be sated.

She moaned in desire. She was certain she could
climb no higher on love's spiral, but she did. Fires
leaped and burned within both as they meshed
together upon the soft bed. Her head rolled from side
to side and she breathed erratically as his mouth
feasted upon breasts which were swollen and firm
with passion. For a time, she lay mesmerized by his
actions and the sensations they aroused.

She discovered the stimulating thrill of bringing
him intense pleasure with her bold caresses. Shamelessly and greedily, she gave and took with unbridled
desire and new courage. When he entered her, she
arched and engulfed his manhood with an urgency
which surprised and pleased him, crying out in
blissful rapture at that first inner contact.

They moved in unison, Reis whispering instructions into her ears, all of which she eagerly followed.
Although each thrust and response inspired ecstasy
in both, their needs flamed into one roaring blaze
which demanded to be extinguished before they were consumed.

They soared toward passion's peak together, the
heights they were reaching bringing a lightness to
their heads. They touched, kissed, and mingled
bodies and spirits until they could no longer restrain
themselves. Fulfillment burst upon them and shook
them with an intensity unknown before. Scaling the
peak, they gradually eased down into a tranquil
valley. They lay locked together, relishing the power
and pleasure of this joining. They kissed and
embraced tenderly as slumber claimed their exhausted bodies.

On Thursday and Friday, Reis remained with
Amanda during the daylight but ventured out both
nights to meet with George Findley and carry out his
investigation. Amanda could sense his dismay over
the accumulating evidence, but she didn't pry. Before
dawn on Saturday, Reis slipped out of the house to
head for Washington-eighteen miles from Alexandria-to discuss his findings with Grant.

When Reis returned home late that night, he told
Amanda the decision had been made to entrap Weber
and his men the following week. He didn't tell her
that the arrests would come during a meeting of the
illegal Ku Klux Klan, or while he was confiscating
revealing pages from the books in both firms, in
McVane's office, and from letters hidden in Weber's
home. Timing was essential to success and survival.
To prevent discovery or suspicion, Reis couldn't
steal those pages and letters until the last minute. It
would be a perilous climax to weeks of work and determination, and it would be a beginning to his
new life with Amanda Lawrence Harrison.

Reis was concealed from view when the unsuspecting Weber called on Amanda Sunday afternoon. Reis
had warned Amanda he would attack Weber on the
spot if that villain offered any threat to her safety, no
matter the cost to the mission. Amanda had cautioned him not to react too hastily or rashly or show
himself unless Weber physically assailed her and she
screamed for help. They agreed on their signals and
actions, then waited for Weber to appear.

Wanting this foul matter settled quickly and
without trouble, she immediately came to the point
the moment Weber was seated. "I have made a
decision, Weber. I told you I would respond to your
proposal today, but I cannot." When he started to
protest, she hastily silenced him. "Wait! Hear me out
first. I think you'll agree with my conclusions."

Weber sullenly leaned back against the sofa but
remained attentive. She informed him calmly, "I
want you to hire someone to find Randy. That
distressing and puzzling matter needs to be resolved
before you and I can make plans for us. I don't mean
to imply I don't trust you, but I must make certain
you had nothing to do with her departure. I'm sorry,
but I feel there is something I don't know. I want you
to locate her and bring her home. If there's nothing
between you two, then I'll marry you on any day you
choose. If there is love between you two, then I will
step aside for Randy to marry you. If the feelings are
on her side alone, it should be settled before we wed. If you have even the slightest desire for her, it should
be faced and dealt with before you make a mistake by
marrying the wrong woman. I hope you agree this is
a fair solution for all concerned. Well, what do you
think? Can you find my sister?"

She inhaled and exhaled to release her tension.
Stunned by this unexpected proposition, Weber
couldn't speak and had difficulty thinking clearly. In
his hesitation, she added, "I won't lie to you, Weber. I
am not madly in love with you and I won't pretend
I am. I'll even admit to being selfish and conceited. I
will do whatever necessary for survival. Is that honest
enough for you? -I shall set a time limit of two weeks."

Weber probed her incredible suggestion. "I told
you I couldn't find her when I went there. What if she
can't be found, ever?"

"Perhaps this will help your detective," she stated,
handing him a brass oval frame with Miranda's
miniature portrait inside. "She can't simply vanish
without a trace. Tell your man to work harder, or
hire a better one. Someone in Charleston must have
seen her by now. If I get another telegram or a letter
from her, I will make it available to you." She went
on to tell him about the first one, knowing it was
unnecessary. "I'm warning you now, Weber; don't
marry me with any desire in your heart for my sister. I
don't demand love, but I will demand fidelity. If you
have any doubts at all, end them in the next two
weeks. If Randy is suffering from unrequited love for
you, then she will never return home after we wed.
Surely it is best for all of us to make peace first. Do you agree?"

Weber rose and faced her. He needed privacy to
study this turn of events and time to make some
plans. Whatever happened now, he would come out
the winner. He smiled and nodded. "I'll locate
Randy for you, then you can vanquish any doubts
you have about me. If she has any fantasy where I'm
concerned, we shall deal with it."

Amanda came to her feet and smiled faintly in
return. "Unless there is some pressing business to
discuss, I would appreciate your getting to this
matter as quickly as possible. I feel it would be best to
settle our private lives before we discuss our business
affiliation."

Weber concurred and left without even attempting
to kiss or embrace her, which suited Amanda
perfectly. He was too busy thinking that now that he
didn't have to be so furtive with his search, he could
pull out all stops in order to locate Miranda and
finally decide whom to marry and whom to slay.

Amanda turned to smile at her husband as he
entered the room clapping in admiration for her
performance. "Excellent, love, excellent," he complimented her, then swept her into his arms and
danced her around the sofa as she giggled happily.

When he halted and gazed down into her upturned
face which shone with such love and joy, he kissed
the tip of her nose. "All we have to do now is pray
Weber doesn't come across any clues to Randy's
whereabouts," she remarked, slightly worried about
this brazen ruse. "You did mail my letter to Luke and Randy from Washington yesterday?"

"It's on the way to Pierre right this moment, love,"
he replied. "But I'd be willing to bet my boots,
comfortable as they are, the case will be over before
Randy has it in her hand," he alleged smugly.

But at that moment in the Dakota Territory,
Miranda had her hands full with another matter, an
injured and stubborn cousin. The steamer was
lingering at its last stop, unloading supplies at the
Lower Brule Indian Agency, before heading for its
termination point.