Healing Trace by Debra Kayn Page B

sad, but quickly changed to something
happy through the rest of the song."
    He
passed a look to Devon before turning to her. "It's a story of a bashful
woman, who long ago was courted by…well, the most popular man in the tribe. One
day, he flirts with her and because other people have picked on her all through
her life, she thinks he's being cruel and doesn't take him seriously."
    "That's
sad," she said.
    "Ah,
but she turns the tables on him. She agrees to meet him by the river at dark,
intending to put him in his place for ridiculing her. It is there, in the dark,
that she can hide from her insecurities and stand up for herself. But, the
spirit has different plans and when her admirer arrives, she sheds her clothes
and seduces him under the moon to get back at him for making fun of her."
The corners of his mouth softened. "The spirits cast a spell around him
and from that night on, he turns into her love slave, and they have many
babies."
    They
both laughed. A little twinge low in Joan's belly sparked to life as she looked
into his relaxed face. Brooding and aloof, Trace was attractive. Laughing, he left
her breathless.
    Joan
leaned into him and gave him a nudge. "Did you make that up?"
    He
shrugged. "You'll have to learn our language to find out, I guess."
    The
men put away the musical instruments, and followed Joan out to the main part of
the house. Trace headed toward the kitchen on his crutches, and the other guys
headed outside. Joan poured herself and Trace a cup of coffee.
    "What's
on your agenda today?" She sat down at the bar and slid his mug to him.
    He
rubbed his hands over his lower face. "I'm going to work on some paperwork
for the reservation. Joe, who works at the stables, faxed the papers I needed
last night, and I should be able to schedule the next load of horses so they'll
be ready for delivery."
    She
added a spoonful of sugar in her cup. "While you do that, I'll go ahead
and take a shower. Would it be okay if I put a piece of outgoing mail in your
box later? My landlord doesn't believe in online bill paying, and since I don't
have a way to get to Durham, I don't want this month's rent payment to be late.
He's a stickler for paying on time."
    "Sure."
He took a drink of his coffee. "Although, if you ever need to go into
town, Devon or Brody could take you or you could borrow my truck."
    "I
wouldn't want to do that. You know what happened to the last car I drove."
She rolled her eyes.
    "Still…it
would be no problem." He grabbed one of the muffins off the plate and held
one out for Joan.
    She
peeled the paper off, and picked off one of the blueberries. "Can I ask
you something?"
    "No
reason to ask, you'll do it anyway." His lips twitched.
    "I
understand why your dreams led you away from the reservation, but each of you
have jobs or relatives you're still connected to there. Brody even said your
property backs Lakota land. I'm curious about why you all didn't go back after
you became successful. You could have built this house anywhere, right? Or, is
it not allowed?" She brushed off her hands.
    "There
are reasons why I won't live on the reservation." He popped the last bite
into his mouth.
    She
raised her brows and waited. "You're doing it again."
    "What?"
He stood up and dragged his crutches under his arms.
    "Closing
yourself off." She sighed and looked away. "Not that you have to
answer, so if I brought up something you don't want to talk about, it'd be
easier just to tell me it's none of my business."
    Letting
the subject drop, she wiped off the counter. Trace sat back down and was
studying her. She ignored him.
    "Don't
get me wrong, I respect our beliefs, our way of life for my people."
Trace's voice was low, and he stared down at the counter. "I want to see
our people prosper and better their lives, but I don't want to live there on a
daily basis. I can't."
    She
laid her hand on his. "Trace. It's okay. You don't have to say more. I
shouldn't have asked. I'm nosy, if you haven't noticed."
    He
nodded and