Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) by Constance O'Banyon Page A
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Native Americans, 19th century, Abduction, King, true love, goddess, Protection, Prince, Indian, American West, dove, savage, Courted, Suitors, Lagonda Tribe, Rescued, White People
Ads: Link
She turned over to her back and smiled at him. "Do you know what I would be doing right this moment if I were with my family?"
He did not respond, nor did she expect him to.
"We would all be gathered in the sitting room after eating one of Tess's well-prepared meals. Tess is our housekeeper. Of course, she is more like a part of the family. There is my father—he would like you. He is intelligent and very distinguished looking, and if you do not mind my saying so, he is very handsome."
Mara frowned. "Then there is my mother. She is a beautiful lady, but her health is not good, and we all worry about her. You would like my mother . . ." She considered a moment. "No, perhaps you would not like her because she was white. . . . Everyone loves her. Although she is ill most of the time, she never complains, and thinks of others more often than herself."
If Mara did not know better, she would swear he was listening to her and understanding her words, but she knew that was not the case so she continued. "There is my older brother, David, he is twenty-two, and very much my mother's son. He is straightforward and dependable, though he gets his brown hair and blue eyes from my father, while Jeffery and myself have my mother's coloring. Jeffery is nineteen. He is not only my brother, but my best friend as well." Mara looked above her, watching the dancing pattern the fire made on the overhead ceiling.
Tajarez waited, hoping she would continue. He wanted to hear how she had become the prisoner of the two men he had slain.
"It was because of my brother, Jeffery, that I was kidnapped." She frowned. "I do not mean it was actually his fault. It was his birthday, and I had gone into the woods to pick wild strawberries to make something special for him." She looked at Tajarez and smiled. "Jeffery loves strawberries. I knew my father and mother had forbidden me to go into the forest alone, but I thought just this once. . . ." Her voice trailed off. "When I think of the pain my family must be going through at this very moment, it makes me very angry with myself."
Mara turned to her side and propped her head on her hand. "I must return home. I know my family will be looking for me at this very moment."
The dark eyes stared into her green ones.
"You must help me," she pleaded. "I feel if you could understand me you would help me." She laughed. "You would do anything to be rid of me, would you not? The other two Indians would not let me go, and you would like to see the last of me."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "I do not understand what the two Indians wanted with me. I am not of their race, and I know nothing of their way of life, as they would have discovered once they got me to their village. Perhaps they wanted me to cook and clean for them, but Tess would say I am next to useless in the kitchen."
Tajarez felt relief that the two men had not violated her. He smiled slightly at how innocent she was. Did she not know how lovely she was, and that men would die on her behalf? When she was older he had no doubt that her father would have his hands full turning the men away. That thought bothered him.
He thought how different she was from all other women. Looking at her golden hair, he wanted to reach out and touch it. He trembled, remembering burying his face in its softness in his dreams.
He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the sight of her, but she was too near and his mind refused to block her out. He rose to his feet and walked out of the cave.
Mara felt crushed. He would brave the storm that raged outside the cave rather than be near her. She felt so drawn to him, and she found herself wishing she could win his approval. It was very important to her that he like her.
Tajarez stood in the driving rain with his face turned up toward the heavens. Great Father, he prayed silently. If this is a test, give me strength to get through it.
THE BOAT UNDER THE COMMAND OF SERGEANT PRYOR PROCEEDED ON IN OUR ABSENCE (AFTER
He did not respond, nor did she expect him to.
"We would all be gathered in the sitting room after eating one of Tess's well-prepared meals. Tess is our housekeeper. Of course, she is more like a part of the family. There is my father—he would like you. He is intelligent and very distinguished looking, and if you do not mind my saying so, he is very handsome."
Mara frowned. "Then there is my mother. She is a beautiful lady, but her health is not good, and we all worry about her. You would like my mother . . ." She considered a moment. "No, perhaps you would not like her because she was white. . . . Everyone loves her. Although she is ill most of the time, she never complains, and thinks of others more often than herself."
If Mara did not know better, she would swear he was listening to her and understanding her words, but she knew that was not the case so she continued. "There is my older brother, David, he is twenty-two, and very much my mother's son. He is straightforward and dependable, though he gets his brown hair and blue eyes from my father, while Jeffery and myself have my mother's coloring. Jeffery is nineteen. He is not only my brother, but my best friend as well." Mara looked above her, watching the dancing pattern the fire made on the overhead ceiling.
Tajarez waited, hoping she would continue. He wanted to hear how she had become the prisoner of the two men he had slain.
"It was because of my brother, Jeffery, that I was kidnapped." She frowned. "I do not mean it was actually his fault. It was his birthday, and I had gone into the woods to pick wild strawberries to make something special for him." She looked at Tajarez and smiled. "Jeffery loves strawberries. I knew my father and mother had forbidden me to go into the forest alone, but I thought just this once. . . ." Her voice trailed off. "When I think of the pain my family must be going through at this very moment, it makes me very angry with myself."
Mara turned to her side and propped her head on her hand. "I must return home. I know my family will be looking for me at this very moment."
The dark eyes stared into her green ones.
"You must help me," she pleaded. "I feel if you could understand me you would help me." She laughed. "You would do anything to be rid of me, would you not? The other two Indians would not let me go, and you would like to see the last of me."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "I do not understand what the two Indians wanted with me. I am not of their race, and I know nothing of their way of life, as they would have discovered once they got me to their village. Perhaps they wanted me to cook and clean for them, but Tess would say I am next to useless in the kitchen."
Tajarez felt relief that the two men had not violated her. He smiled slightly at how innocent she was. Did she not know how lovely she was, and that men would die on her behalf? When she was older he had no doubt that her father would have his hands full turning the men away. That thought bothered him.
He thought how different she was from all other women. Looking at her golden hair, he wanted to reach out and touch it. He trembled, remembering burying his face in its softness in his dreams.
He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the sight of her, but she was too near and his mind refused to block her out. He rose to his feet and walked out of the cave.
Mara felt crushed. He would brave the storm that raged outside the cave rather than be near her. She felt so drawn to him, and she found herself wishing she could win his approval. It was very important to her that he like her.
Tajarez stood in the driving rain with his face turned up toward the heavens. Great Father, he prayed silently. If this is a test, give me strength to get through it.
THE BOAT UNDER THE COMMAND OF SERGEANT PRYOR PROCEEDED ON IN OUR ABSENCE (AFTER
Similar Books
