Dakota Dreams (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, England, Western, Native Americans, 19th century, multicultural, warrior, buffalo, Gambling, Marriage of Convenience, Brother, Indian, heritage, fiancé, stranger, American West, promise, Paleface, DAKOTA DREAMS, Debts, Reckless Ride, Bethrothed, Philanderer, Arapaho Indian
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of blood. "I will not die tonight, Dakota. One day, you will know that nothing can stay my hand from killing you. I made no promise to my father."
Dakota had not known until today that his brother harbored so much hatred for him. With a last look at the Arapaho people he loved so well, he turned to Levi. "I am ready to go. Let us leave this place that I once called home."
There was sadness in many dark eyes as the Arapaho watched Dakota mount his horse and ride away beside Levi through the village, and across the river. Not once did Dakota look back at what he was leaving behind. Everything he loved was gone. Not one Arapaho tried to stop his departure, not even his friend Shadow Walker. They all knew that his destiny lay in a different direction.
He did not see Black Otter being dragged through the village. He did not dwell on what punishment would be wrought on the murderer of the chiefs beloved daughter. His heart was too full of grief, his mind unable to accept the losses he had suffered today.
***
That night there was no moon. Dakota stood alone beneath a star-sprinkled sky, feeling as if someone had ripped out his insides. Even though he knew a warrior should not cry, tears washed down his cheeks, for no one was around to see.
With his keen hearing, he picked up the sound of Levi's footsteps. Levi's voice broke the silence. "I know what you are feeling, Dakota. Grief is something that will only lessen with the passing of time."
For a long moment Dakota did not answer, and then he said, "Levi, I do not want you to think I will not honor my word to my father. I will go to England with you, but I need some time alone, to reflect on my grief."
"Yes, I can see that."
"Will you wait for me at Murphy's Trading Post?"
"Yes, I will wait. And I will send word to your grandfather that you are coming. How much time do you think you will need?"
"I do not know. All my life I have been an Arapaho; it will not be easy to make the change. I will come to you when I am ready to enter the white man's world."
4
England, June 1857
Lady Breanna Kenton lifted the front of her faded green gown and descended the rickety stairs. As always, when she viewed the disrepair that had befallen her ancestral home, she felt pain in her heart. She tried not to see the dust of neglect that had gathered on the mahogany banisters, the threadbare rug runner at the foot of the stairs, or the chipped marble in the entry hall. Since there was no money to retain servants to manage this huge manor house, it was up to Breanna and her sister-in-law, Sophie, to keep it clean, a task that had at one time required a full staff of servants. Many of the rooms had been boarded up, and the once proud mansion had fallen on hard times since her father's death.
It was well known that Breanna's brother, Fielding, the Fifth Earl of Kenton, was a compulsive gambler and had squandered the fortune that had come to him on his father's death. He had impoverished his family, and they were in dire straits. Valuable paintings, furniture, and jewels had long since been sold to pay Fielding's gambling debts.
Once this house had rung with laughter and happiness; now it was crumbling with decay and neglect. Breanna remembered when her mother and father had been alive and the house had gleamed and smelled of lemon wax, full of treasures acquired by preceding generations.
Breanna sighed. She had often wished that she had been born a male. If she had been, she would have left long ago. Her days were spent in hard work, and she had by now abandoned her dreams of a season in London. The only good part of her life was her friendship with Sophie, and the joy she had in watching her three nephews grow.
"Breanna, could you come in here for a moment?" Her sister-in-law stood in the doorway that led to the morning room, looking as if there were something troubling her. "I would like to... talk to you," Sophie said hesitantly.
Looking at Sophie, it was hard to believe she had once
Dakota had not known until today that his brother harbored so much hatred for him. With a last look at the Arapaho people he loved so well, he turned to Levi. "I am ready to go. Let us leave this place that I once called home."
There was sadness in many dark eyes as the Arapaho watched Dakota mount his horse and ride away beside Levi through the village, and across the river. Not once did Dakota look back at what he was leaving behind. Everything he loved was gone. Not one Arapaho tried to stop his departure, not even his friend Shadow Walker. They all knew that his destiny lay in a different direction.
He did not see Black Otter being dragged through the village. He did not dwell on what punishment would be wrought on the murderer of the chiefs beloved daughter. His heart was too full of grief, his mind unable to accept the losses he had suffered today.
***
That night there was no moon. Dakota stood alone beneath a star-sprinkled sky, feeling as if someone had ripped out his insides. Even though he knew a warrior should not cry, tears washed down his cheeks, for no one was around to see.
With his keen hearing, he picked up the sound of Levi's footsteps. Levi's voice broke the silence. "I know what you are feeling, Dakota. Grief is something that will only lessen with the passing of time."
For a long moment Dakota did not answer, and then he said, "Levi, I do not want you to think I will not honor my word to my father. I will go to England with you, but I need some time alone, to reflect on my grief."
"Yes, I can see that."
"Will you wait for me at Murphy's Trading Post?"
"Yes, I will wait. And I will send word to your grandfather that you are coming. How much time do you think you will need?"
"I do not know. All my life I have been an Arapaho; it will not be easy to make the change. I will come to you when I am ready to enter the white man's world."
4
England, June 1857
Lady Breanna Kenton lifted the front of her faded green gown and descended the rickety stairs. As always, when she viewed the disrepair that had befallen her ancestral home, she felt pain in her heart. She tried not to see the dust of neglect that had gathered on the mahogany banisters, the threadbare rug runner at the foot of the stairs, or the chipped marble in the entry hall. Since there was no money to retain servants to manage this huge manor house, it was up to Breanna and her sister-in-law, Sophie, to keep it clean, a task that had at one time required a full staff of servants. Many of the rooms had been boarded up, and the once proud mansion had fallen on hard times since her father's death.
It was well known that Breanna's brother, Fielding, the Fifth Earl of Kenton, was a compulsive gambler and had squandered the fortune that had come to him on his father's death. He had impoverished his family, and they were in dire straits. Valuable paintings, furniture, and jewels had long since been sold to pay Fielding's gambling debts.
Once this house had rung with laughter and happiness; now it was crumbling with decay and neglect. Breanna remembered when her mother and father had been alive and the house had gleamed and smelled of lemon wax, full of treasures acquired by preceding generations.
Breanna sighed. She had often wished that she had been born a male. If she had been, she would have left long ago. Her days were spent in hard work, and she had by now abandoned her dreams of a season in London. The only good part of her life was her friendship with Sophie, and the joy she had in watching her three nephews grow.
"Breanna, could you come in here for a moment?" Her sister-in-law stood in the doorway that led to the morning room, looking as if there were something troubling her. "I would like to... talk to you," Sophie said hesitantly.
Looking at Sophie, it was hard to believe she had once
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