Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (13 page)

Tanka turned over on her stomach, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She would find a way to get even with him for his treatment of her. She would seek to revenge herself on what he loved most in the world. The Golden One.

WE ROSE EARLY. TOOK THE CHIEF TO THE PUBLIC STORE AND FURNISHED HIM WITH
SOME CLOTHES… TOOK AN EARLY BREAKFAST
WITH COLONEL HUNT AND SET OUT. DES
CENDED TO THE MISSISSIPPI AND DOWN THAT
RIVER TO ST. LOUIS…

—
   
William Clark

8

Mara bid good-bye to the Simpsons, who had come from Philadelphia to attend David's wedding. They had spent the night before going on to their daughter's in Harrisburg. She waved to them from the veranda and watched as the buggy pulled out of sight. Mara's heart was light, and joy showed in her face.

Tess, who knew her so well, studied her with a puzzled frown on her face. "What are you so happy about? I haven't seen you smile like this in a long time. Have you decided that life is not so bad after all?"

Mara took Tess's hands and swung her around in the hallway. "Oh, Tess, life is beautiful."

Tess pushed Mara away from her and looked at her suspiciously. "Care to tell me why you shed your gloomy face?"

"Tajarez came for me. He loves me, and wants me to marry him. I am going away with him," she blurted out.

Tess was struck dumb for a moment. "You must be joshin'. Are you saying that injin came here?"

"That is exactly what I am saying. I am going away with him."

"Lord save us all. You have gone and done what the doctor warned us against, and lost your mind."

"Tess, my mind was never more clear, and I have never been happier in my life."

Tess felt her world being threatened. She had loved Mara like her own daughter. She could not bear to think of her being cast in the role of squaw, living in some dirty, obscure Indian village. "Your brothers will never allow you to go off with him, mark my words."

"If they object, I will go anyway," she said defiantly. "I will not give Tajarez up."

"We shall just see about that, young lady. We shall see.

'Tess, do you not want to see me happy? Without him, I am miserable. You know how I have missed him. I love him so much. Wait until you see him, you will love him too."

Tess shook her head. "I do not know where this is all going to end. I see no happy ending for any of us."

"Have David and Linda come downstairs yet?"

"Of course not. Why?"

"I want you to knock on their door and tell David I wish to see him. Then find Jeffery and tell him also."

"I will do no such thing. Have you lost your senses?"

"If you do not tell him I want to see him, I shall just be forced to go with Tajarez without his consent."

Tess knew by the stubborn set of Mara's chin she would do just that. Crumbling to herself, she ascended the stairs. "This is not my doing. I will not shoulder the blame."

Mara found Jeffery waiting for her in their father's study.

"What are you up to? I have watched you floating around all morning, smiling at everyone, looking as if you were the bird that swallowed the worm."

"I will tell you when David and Linda join us."

"Good lord, you did not disturb David and Linda, did you/

"I did, and with good reason, as you will see."

David and Linda entered the study, holding hands. David's eyes immediately sought his sister. "Tess came knocking on our door, acting like a crazy person. She said I had better talk to you before you ruined your life forever. What is this all about?"

"If you will sit down, I will tell you."

David sat Linda down on the sofa, and then sat beside her. Jeffery sat on the arm of a chair, studying his sister.

"I applaud your ability to get everyone's interest, Mara. You are now the center of attention. Talk," Jeffery said in an amused voice.

"I am going to be married," she blurted out.

"Are you crazed?" David fired, rising quickly to his feet despite Linda's restraining hand. "You had better explain that statement, miss. If this is some jest, I can assure you I am not amused."

Jeffery watched his sister's face, dreading her answer. Could the Indian, Tajarez, have found her?

"It is no jest, David. Tajarez was here last night. I do not know how he found me, but he wants me to marry him and go to his home with him. I told him I would."

"Over my dead body," David said, running his fingers through his hair.

"Do you think we will allow you to marry an Indian, a savage?" Jeffery injected.

"Think what your friends will say," David added.

"Do you think I care one whit what my friends say? I only know Tajarez loves me and wants me. That is the only thing I care about. I will go with him, with or without your blessing," she said defiantly.

"Like hell you will!" David said.

"Mara,   have  you  considered  the  consequences?"

Linda said quietly. "Are you prepared to leave your home and family and to travel to some unknown destination? I have heard stories of the hard life the Indians live. I understand they live a most meager existence. You are used to every comfort, and all the finer things in life. I do not believe you could exist in some filthy hovel."

"Linda, you of all people should understand. You are a woman in love; you know what I am feeling.'
1

"It is not the same, Mara. David and I come from the same world. We grew up together, knowing that we would one day wed. You really know nothing about this man. You have known him for such a short time. I love you as my own sister, and would not like to see you make a mistake that would ruin your whole life."

"Nothing you say makes the slightest difference to me. True, I have known Tajarez a short time, but the love is genuine all the same."

"You are under age, and as your guardian, I will never permit this folly, Mara. It would not be six months before you would be home begging me to take you back. No, I will not permit it," David stated firmly.

Jeffery rose and stood before Mara. "I cannot believe we are standing here discussing your going away with an Indian. Have we all lost our minds?"

Mara pushed Jeffery aside and turned to David. "You can lock me in my room, and you can watch me every waking hour, but you cannot prevent me from going to him. Why won't any of you understand, I love him."

David jammed his hands in his pockets and walked over to the window. He had not handled the situation very well. He had tried to do what he knew was best. He found he could not stand the thought of an Indian's touching his sister, much less marrying her. He turned to Jeffery.

"You talk some sense to her. She has always listened to you in the past."

"No one needs to talk to me," Mara said, sitting down on the edge of the sofa. "If you loved me, as you say you do, you would want to see me happy."

Linda took her hand and squeezed it. "It is because we love you that we are concerned for your happiness. I had envisioned us as a family. When you and Jeffery marry, we could be so close, and our children could grow up together."

Mara was touched by Linda's declaration. She would miss her family, but she would go with Tajarez, no matter what. Rising quickly to her feet, she ran to David and threw her arms around him as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I implore you to just meet and talk with Tajarez. I know you will like him."

David could never stand the sight of his sister's tears. His arms went around her comfortingly as he looked at Jeffery over her shoulder. "How can I communicate with this man? You said he could not speak."

"His English is as good as yours or mine, David. Will you go to his camp and at least talk to him before you make up your mind?"

"If he comes here, I will speak to him. I would welcome the chance to thank the man who saved your life, but I will not give you to him."

"When do we meet this Tajarez?" Jeffery asked.

"Today. This afternoon he is sending a man to escort you and David to his camp."

"He what?" David's voice boomed out. "Does he think he is some damned king or something?"

"David, what difference where you meet him? We do owe this man a great deal," Linda spoke up. "And I am going also."

"Linda, who knows what we will find when we get there? I do not think it is wise for you to go."

"Nevertheless, I am going," she told him stubbornly.

"Let her go, David. I confess to being curious about seeing this Indian camp myself," Jeffery said.

"All right, I know when I am outnumbered." David gave in grudgingly. He held Mara away from him. "I will go to this camp, and I will speak to this man, but I will not give you to him. Is that clearly understood? When did you say this Indian guide would be here?"

Mara kissed her brother on the cheek. "He will be here this afternoon. I will have George saddle the horses," she called over her shoulder as she rushed from the room.

After she had gone, the two brothers looked at each other.

"I hope I am doing the right thing, Jeffery. I tried to think what father would do in my place."

Jeffery shrugged his shoulders. "Let us just take it one step at a time. It may be that the Indian will not take her against your wishes."

"I cannot put much hope in that."

"Do you suppose they will have their faces painted?" Linda asked.

"I certainly hope not," Jeffery said, laughing. "I believe they paint their faces when they are on the warpath."

"I still think you should remain here, Linda," her husband told her. "We do not know what we might encounter."

"Oh, no, you are not leaving me behind. I want to see what this Tajarez looks like. He must be special if he won Mara where all others failed."

David heard a rider approach the front of the house. Pulling the curtains aside, he saw an Indian dismount. He stood beside his horse, tall and proud.

"Look at this!" David motioned for Linda and Jeffery to join him at the window.

"I have never seen anyone who resembles him. Look at the silver around his head and upper arm," Jeffery said.

"He looks very fierce. I would hate to cross him," Linda said, feeling fear prickle her spine.

"Jeffery, go and tell George to bring our mounts around to the front. Then tell Mara we are leaving," David said.

When George led the horses to the front of the house, he stared at the Indian in shocked surprise. Jeffery had warned him what to expect, but he could not help gaping as the Indian stood with his arms folded across his chest.

Palomas quickly dismissed George as unimportant. He was very aware of everything that went on around him. His keen hearing picked up every sound. He saw the three persons who came out the front door. He looked at the man with the golden hair. Tajarez had told him about the Golden One's brothers. His eyes moved to the woman. She was beautiful, but her hair was a soft brown, and not the golden color. He did not know who she was. The prince had not said a woman would be with the men.

The door opened a second time and Palomas saw her. Nothing Palomas had been told prepared him for the lovely vision with the golden hair. His eyes locked with her green ones, and he was lost. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he walked slowly toward her.

Mara stared in awe as the Indian advanced. His buckskin vest and trousers were beaded in silver to match the silver and turquoise armband and headband that he wore. The man was not handsome, but he moved with such grace and agility that Mara thought him almost handsome.

The four Goldens watched, awestruck, as the big man went down on one knee before Mara and lowered his head.

Mara was completely at a loss. Was it not out of character for an Indian to bow before a woman? She looked at Jeffery for some direction, but he was staring at the strange occurrence. So Mara did the only thing she could under the circumstances. She touched the bowed head and smiled shyly as he raised his head to look at her.

"Hello. Are you sent by Tajarez?" It was a senseless statement, she chided herself. Of course he was sent by Tajarez.

The man rose and nodded. "Tajarez," he repeated. He then walked away from her to stand beside his horse. Palomas waited until they had all mounted, noting the strange seats fastened to their saddles. He mounted his horse, and with one last glance at the Golden One, led the group into the forest, Jeffery riding beside him, while Linda and David rode just behind.

Mara watched until they were out of sight. She felt apprehensive about the meeting, but Tajarez had said to trust him. She wished she could have gone with them. The waiting was going to be very difficult.

Jeffery rode alongside the Indian, feeling a sense of adventure. How his friends would envy him when they learned he had visited an Indian camp.

When they came to what should have been the end of the trail, David noted that the trail had been expanded, and as they wound around a bend, he saw a large clearing. There were many tents that had been erected in the clearing, and one huge white one stood apart from all the rest. They dismounted, and the Indian motioned for them to follow him as he made his way to the big white tent. They were surrounded by many Indian braves, who were dressed very much as was their guide. The dark eyes seemed to bore into them. The guide left them at the entrance.