yet to figure out his connection to her dream
of the Indian.
The child glanced toward the lean-tos again, and this
time, Kate’s gaze followed his. The fearful sight that drew her attention
weakened her knees. Kate’s breath caught in her throat, yet she stood her
ground.
Taima strode toward her.
He wore a look of defiance, as though he expected her
to confront him. The blueness of his eyes stood out even more when his ire
rose. Kate began to think he was always angry since that’s the only mood he’d
exhibited these last few days.
Because of her? If so, why had he bothered rescuing
her during the raid?
His gaze reverted to the boy beside her, and he
approached with outstretched arms. The child ran to him and wrapped his little
arms around his father’s neck. The tenderness he bestowed on his son surprised
Kate as she watched in awe. Taima smiled, lighting his boyish features as he
cradled the child upon his arm. The boy fondled a feather dangling from his
father’s headband. A quiet conversation took place between father and child,
then they both laughed.
Taima joined Ahanu, his wife and their other children
who climbed all over the men to play as they sat down. Kate hid herself within
the lean-to, watching the exchange of friends and family. Sadness seeped into
her heart to think she no longer had anyone to share even the smallest amount
of joy.
When one of the children squealed in delight, Taima
joined in their laughter. Kate peered from the door of the lean-to to watch the
playful bantering. Taima’s wide smile enhanced his features even more. Ruffling
a child’s hair, his gaze lifted to meet hers.
The smile immediately shed from his face like the skin
of a snake. Her heart ached to think she could be the cause of so much hatred
and turned toward the lean-to’s interior, once again hiding herself within the
shadows. Stepping to a vacant corner, she squatted on her heels, and toyed with
the soft leather fringe on her dress. A sense of loneliness consumed her, and
tears gathered in her eyes as she tried not to listen to their happy chatter.
Frustrated that Taima had so easily made her cry with
a single scathing look, Kate bit her lower lip to cease the quivering. She
couldn’t think of anything she’d done to deserve this treatment.
Tiny fingers touched the dampness on Kate’s cheek. She
looked up to see a little girl’s sad face.
“E himpa’aute yakkai?” The child glanced at her wet
fingers, then slowly touched Kate’s cheek again. Such an act of innocence
tugged a smile from Kate, causing the tiny fingers to touch her lips.
“Kai saikka taipo wa’ippea masunaite!” Taima’s deep,
stern voice sent the child scampering away. Kate leaned forward around the
corner to meet Taima’s gaze; whatever he’d said made the child run to Aiyana’s
side.
Furious that he’d frightened the little girl, Kate
stormed toward him, tears still blurring her vision. He stood to confront her,
but she didn’t allow his scathing glare and size to intimidate her.
Not this time.
Fury burned her eyes and gave her strength. “How dare
you! You might frighten a child with your savage ways, but I don’t frighten so
easily!”
With a swiftness she hadn’t expected, Taima gripped
her upper arms painfully, pulling her hard against his chest.
“Perhaps...I need to change my treatment of you, White
Woman. Maybe then, my savage ways just might be more to your liking.”
Kate gasped.
Shock weakened her knees and it’s a good thing he held
onto her so tight.
The clearly spoken English splashed over her like a
bucket of cold water. Taima’s icy-blue eyes glared into hers.
Utter stillness fell over the camp.
“What? No more angry words?” His fingers dug into her
arms as he shook her. “Does your silence mean you accept things my way?
Although, I doubt very much I can put aside my hatred for your people long
enough to bed you.”
“You bastard!” She struggled within his grasp, but he
held tight, his body
of the Indian.
The child glanced toward the lean-tos again, and this
time, Kate’s gaze followed his. The fearful sight that drew her attention
weakened her knees. Kate’s breath caught in her throat, yet she stood her
ground.
Taima strode toward her.
He wore a look of defiance, as though he expected her
to confront him. The blueness of his eyes stood out even more when his ire
rose. Kate began to think he was always angry since that’s the only mood he’d
exhibited these last few days.
Because of her? If so, why had he bothered rescuing
her during the raid?
His gaze reverted to the boy beside her, and he
approached with outstretched arms. The child ran to him and wrapped his little
arms around his father’s neck. The tenderness he bestowed on his son surprised
Kate as she watched in awe. Taima smiled, lighting his boyish features as he
cradled the child upon his arm. The boy fondled a feather dangling from his
father’s headband. A quiet conversation took place between father and child,
then they both laughed.
Taima joined Ahanu, his wife and their other children
who climbed all over the men to play as they sat down. Kate hid herself within
the lean-to, watching the exchange of friends and family. Sadness seeped into
her heart to think she no longer had anyone to share even the smallest amount
of joy.
When one of the children squealed in delight, Taima
joined in their laughter. Kate peered from the door of the lean-to to watch the
playful bantering. Taima’s wide smile enhanced his features even more. Ruffling
a child’s hair, his gaze lifted to meet hers.
The smile immediately shed from his face like the skin
of a snake. Her heart ached to think she could be the cause of so much hatred
and turned toward the lean-to’s interior, once again hiding herself within the
shadows. Stepping to a vacant corner, she squatted on her heels, and toyed with
the soft leather fringe on her dress. A sense of loneliness consumed her, and
tears gathered in her eyes as she tried not to listen to their happy chatter.
Frustrated that Taima had so easily made her cry with
a single scathing look, Kate bit her lower lip to cease the quivering. She
couldn’t think of anything she’d done to deserve this treatment.
Tiny fingers touched the dampness on Kate’s cheek. She
looked up to see a little girl’s sad face.
“E himpa’aute yakkai?” The child glanced at her wet
fingers, then slowly touched Kate’s cheek again. Such an act of innocence
tugged a smile from Kate, causing the tiny fingers to touch her lips.
“Kai saikka taipo wa’ippea masunaite!” Taima’s deep,
stern voice sent the child scampering away. Kate leaned forward around the
corner to meet Taima’s gaze; whatever he’d said made the child run to Aiyana’s
side.
Furious that he’d frightened the little girl, Kate
stormed toward him, tears still blurring her vision. He stood to confront her,
but she didn’t allow his scathing glare and size to intimidate her.
Not this time.
Fury burned her eyes and gave her strength. “How dare
you! You might frighten a child with your savage ways, but I don’t frighten so
easily!”
With a swiftness she hadn’t expected, Taima gripped
her upper arms painfully, pulling her hard against his chest.
“Perhaps...I need to change my treatment of you, White
Woman. Maybe then, my savage ways just might be more to your liking.”
Kate gasped.
Shock weakened her knees and it’s a good thing he held
onto her so tight.
The clearly spoken English splashed over her like a
bucket of cold water. Taima’s icy-blue eyes glared into hers.
Utter stillness fell over the camp.
“What? No more angry words?” His fingers dug into her
arms as he shook her. “Does your silence mean you accept things my way?
Although, I doubt very much I can put aside my hatred for your people long
enough to bed you.”
“You bastard!” She struggled within his grasp, but he
held tight, his body
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