Taboo Love in the West Part 1: A Heart Off-Limits (Wild West Adventures in Love Book 3) by Ella Camsen Page B
Authors: Ella Camsen
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tongue, Lakota. The child stared up at him for what seemed like a lifetime, until she finally had to tear her eyes away from his and nodded off to sleep.
“Now, that is a trick I need to learn from you, my friend,” Judd exclaimed as he took the slumbering child back and laid her gently in her crib. Amitola just smiled and hoped that the evening would pass quickly. The brief moment of sadness that had crossed her face earlier now just a distant memory, Eliza looked so happy and comfortable here. He watched her helping Emmeline to prepare the meal, feeling a tug at his heart, thinking how wonderful this could be if Eliza were always there to prepare his meals for him, if they could find the joy that their hosts had been so blessed to discover in one another. As much as he wished to stay and just watch her forever, he knew he would give himself away should he do so. He joined Judd on the veranda, and they enjoyed a glass of beer and discussed where Judd could move his herd to next as they waited for the women to finish up making the supper.
Amitola’s thoughts kept returning to the tiny woman, bustling about, her cheeks flushed from the stove and her exertions. Would he ever be able to get her out of his mind? It was so unfair that he should finally meet someone who set his body and heart on fire, and for her to be such an impossible target. He had always assumed that one day he would find a wife and settle down. He had never expected to find someone he could love heart and soul, but someone he could share affections and companionship had been a part of his life plan always. He had never found anyone that he felt he could do that with, and now he finally had and it was impossible, it could never be. The ancestors were clearly playing some kind of cruel trick on him sending him the embodiment of all his desires in the body of a white woman.
The meal was delicious, and nobody seemed to notice that Emmeline was doing most of the talking. She often did, so it wasn’t that unusual, but Amitola was aware the entire time of how close Eliza was to him as they sat around the table to share the meal, and each time he glanced up from his plate, he would feel her eyes upon him, though she would always have turned away long before he could catch them and lose himself in their deep blue depths. As soon as he felt it polite to do so, he rose from the table and made his excuses to leave. Just as he did, Gwen awoke and was grizzling and grouchy. Judd asked him politely if he would escort Eliza home, so Judd could clear up while Emmeline fed and bathed the child. Amitola agreed reluctantly, having hoped to ride like the wind across the plains to banish some of the frustration he was feeling.
They walked in silence, Amitola leading his horse on a long rein behind them. For the first mile it was uncomfortable and Amitola wished he knew what to say, wished he had anything he could say that would be safe. The situation was just too intimate, and he was struggling to control himself. All he wanted was to be able to take her in his arms in the dark night, under the gentle light of the silvery moon, and kiss her with all the passion he held so tightly coiled within. The isolation and solitude of the walk was heightening his awareness of her with every step. “You’re very quiet tonight,” she said. “Have I done something to upset you? Has something happened on the reservation? You just don’t seem yourself today.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Gillespie, I am a little pre-occupied. It isn’t your fault. Sorry if I have made you feel bad.” He couldn’t say any more, feeling he had no right to burden her with his feelings.
“How many times do I have to ask you to call me Eliza? I thought we were friends?” she said sadly, clearly confused by his behaviour towards her that evening.
“Many more than you have already done,” he replied.” You are a respected teacher. You deserve to be honoured for that.”
“Don’t be so ridiculous.
“Now, that is a trick I need to learn from you, my friend,” Judd exclaimed as he took the slumbering child back and laid her gently in her crib. Amitola just smiled and hoped that the evening would pass quickly. The brief moment of sadness that had crossed her face earlier now just a distant memory, Eliza looked so happy and comfortable here. He watched her helping Emmeline to prepare the meal, feeling a tug at his heart, thinking how wonderful this could be if Eliza were always there to prepare his meals for him, if they could find the joy that their hosts had been so blessed to discover in one another. As much as he wished to stay and just watch her forever, he knew he would give himself away should he do so. He joined Judd on the veranda, and they enjoyed a glass of beer and discussed where Judd could move his herd to next as they waited for the women to finish up making the supper.
Amitola’s thoughts kept returning to the tiny woman, bustling about, her cheeks flushed from the stove and her exertions. Would he ever be able to get her out of his mind? It was so unfair that he should finally meet someone who set his body and heart on fire, and for her to be such an impossible target. He had always assumed that one day he would find a wife and settle down. He had never expected to find someone he could love heart and soul, but someone he could share affections and companionship had been a part of his life plan always. He had never found anyone that he felt he could do that with, and now he finally had and it was impossible, it could never be. The ancestors were clearly playing some kind of cruel trick on him sending him the embodiment of all his desires in the body of a white woman.
The meal was delicious, and nobody seemed to notice that Emmeline was doing most of the talking. She often did, so it wasn’t that unusual, but Amitola was aware the entire time of how close Eliza was to him as they sat around the table to share the meal, and each time he glanced up from his plate, he would feel her eyes upon him, though she would always have turned away long before he could catch them and lose himself in their deep blue depths. As soon as he felt it polite to do so, he rose from the table and made his excuses to leave. Just as he did, Gwen awoke and was grizzling and grouchy. Judd asked him politely if he would escort Eliza home, so Judd could clear up while Emmeline fed and bathed the child. Amitola agreed reluctantly, having hoped to ride like the wind across the plains to banish some of the frustration he was feeling.
They walked in silence, Amitola leading his horse on a long rein behind them. For the first mile it was uncomfortable and Amitola wished he knew what to say, wished he had anything he could say that would be safe. The situation was just too intimate, and he was struggling to control himself. All he wanted was to be able to take her in his arms in the dark night, under the gentle light of the silvery moon, and kiss her with all the passion he held so tightly coiled within. The isolation and solitude of the walk was heightening his awareness of her with every step. “You’re very quiet tonight,” she said. “Have I done something to upset you? Has something happened on the reservation? You just don’t seem yourself today.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Gillespie, I am a little pre-occupied. It isn’t your fault. Sorry if I have made you feel bad.” He couldn’t say any more, feeling he had no right to burden her with his feelings.
“How many times do I have to ask you to call me Eliza? I thought we were friends?” she said sadly, clearly confused by his behaviour towards her that evening.
“Many more than you have already done,” he replied.” You are a respected teacher. You deserve to be honoured for that.”
“Don’t be so ridiculous.
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