Gray Hawk was still not convinced. He asked Jared to describe the man who was killed. As Jared drew a verbal picture of the white man Gray Hawk had killed, his Indian brother began to accept the story. “It is so,” he admitted, “I found Star unconscious near this man. I killed him.”
Jared stared in disbelief. “Why,” he questioned. "You’ve never attacked white men without cause before. Did you want her so badly yourself?”
Angry, already grieving at the knowledge that honor would make him return the woman he loved to her rightful husband, Gray Hawk snapped a reply. “The man was about to strike her again. I did not hesitate, brother, and I would do it again.” His lips curled with disdain. “You should have protected her against such a thing, for she had been beaten and violated! When I brought her here, she had no memory; she did not know her name or where she came from. We spent three months in the North, with her father’s people.” Jared’s eyes widened in a puzzled manner and Gray Hawk leaned forward to explain. The fire lit the sharp angles of his face, highlighting the haunted pain in his dark eyes. “How well do you know the woman you claim? Have you not seen the high cheekbones, the star upon her cheek, the rich black hair that was her legacy? Her father is Black Wolf of the Siksika Blackfoot. I have no knowledge of her mother.”
Gray Hawk had revealed so much that Jared found it hard to digest it all. Perhaps Mariah’d gotten more than she bargained for with Clay, but the note had proclaimed her guilt. He seriously doubted that she had no memory of him or the marriage. “I want to know what your plans are,” Jared said. “She sure isn’t worth fighting over.” His lips curled back, showing even, white teeth in a sarcastic sneer. “Maybe I ought to flip a coin,” he joked harshly.
Gray Hawk tensed with fury. If he hadn’t checked his anger, he would have gone for Jared’s throat. His jaw muscles worked furiously in an effort to remain calm.
“The woman belongs to you. You do not deserve such a woman and if you hurt her, I will hunt you down like a dog! You have the right to take her,” he promised, adding, “but remember my warning!” Gray Hawk rose, stiffly proper, and turned to go without a glance at the man he had revered as a brother, the man who now tore his heart by claiming the woman he loved.
Jared was speechless. Gray Hawk’s final statement had implied they were no longer brothers. All over a lying slut who wasn’t worth the trouble she’d caused!
Jared was drawn out of his brooding reflections as his wife entered the tepee. Her expression sullen and resentful, she informed him haughtily that she would leave with him in the morning. How could she be so calm and reserved? His anger over the confrontation with Gray Hawk made him want to hurt her. “Come here,” he ordered.
Star hesitated for a moment but obeyed. She had no choice, Gray Hawk had told her she belonged to the man. There was no sense to it! She would leave a man who loved and treated her with kind attention, and live with a man who would mistreat and abuse her. All because Gray Hawk believed this man’s lies over denials. If he truly had been her husband, wouldn’t she remember something about him? She waited, passively wondering if he would hit her again. A moment later he towered over her, glaring down at her. His fingers jerked at a chain around his neck and pulled off the narrow gold band that hung on it. Grabbing her hand, he brutally forced the ring on her finger, glowing with triumph over her repudiation of him. Star glanced down at the ring, finding it vaguely familiar, then, as her startled eyes sought his face, her memory jarred. His face tilted as her vision blurred; with a sudden, horrible weakness, her knees buckled beneath her.
Jared had seen a brief flicker of rebellion when he forced the ring on Mariah’s finger and had been prepared to slap her if she dared to remove it. The sight of her green eyes widening in shock had warned him and he reached forward to catch her just as she fell, sweeping her into his arms and placing her on the ground. There had been the tiniest hint of recognition in her eyes. She moved restlessly, moaning softly as he knelt by her side, waiting for her eyes to open.
As Mariah lay there, vividly colored images flashed behind her closed eyes. She knew now who she was, remembered every sordid, ugly detail of the rape and the man who had stood over her, shouting vile abuse until…until he’d been shot. Confused, she opened her eyes, to find Jared bending over her. Her Jared, the man who had loved and married her. Tears fell freely from her eyes, flowing down her cheeks.
“Jesus,” Jared swore aloud. She was play-acting again! He could swear her mouth trembled with the same innocent vulnerability that he remembered.
The lovely oval face, wet with tears, registered confusion and shock at his rejection. “Jared, I thought you’d been hurt, thrown from your horse. I…I was frantic but when I reached the creek, you weren’t there!” She still seemed puzzled, disoriented.
She really should have been an actress! Her gaze was so genuinely hurt, he’d almost been taken in. “It’s a good try sweetheart,” Jared said sarcastically, “but it fails to explain the note I found by Clay’s body. How pathetic it sounded, ‘please come!’ I gather you didn’t count on his roughness.” His fingers unknowingly gripped her forearms. “I would have thought you’d willingly strip for your lover, Mariah. As I remember, you did for me.” His calculated taunts were sheer torture for Mariah, meant to repay her for the pain he had suffered. She began to struggle, trying to escape his angry tirade. Her hands formed claws that would have scratched him had they been free. He laughed mockingly at her feeble attempts and the sound suddenly infuriated her. She spit at his face, the only action available to her.
Jared’s demonic fury matched his wife’s. He released his hold to swing his hand forward across her face. The blow rocked her head sharply to the side and she lay there, sobbing as he stood over her, loosening his pants. Caught unaware, absorbed by the pain of the second hard blow she’d received in two hours, she stared dumbly as he stripped and dropped down on her, his weight crushing her. One hand easily caught her wrists above her head, the other shoved the buckskin skirt above her waist. Mariah clenched her legs together tightly, cursing him. His knee shoved between her legs and he lunged forward, brutally entering her. Stifling her outraged cries with his mouth, he coldly possessed her defenseless body. His mouth came away from her burning lips, leaving them bruised and swollen and he whispered a low, hoarse threat. “This is just the beginning. When I get through with you, you’ll be sorry you ever met me. I promise you that!”
Through tightly clenched teeth that still ached from his blows, Mariah swore her own vengeance. Her voice cursed him. “I’m already sorry, you bastard! I hate you!” She continued to moan her hatred, turning her face away from his. Even when he found release, his revenge pouring into her, she refused to look or move, but wept bitter, silent tears.
Chapter 16
The next morning, Jared left the Blackfoot village, aware that it was probably the last time he’d see it. Mariah followed behind him on the horse that Gray Hawk had given her. It was a beautiful, spirited gray mare and Gray Hawk had tensely assured her that if ever she needed to return, the mare would find her way back. She hadn’t cried; all of her tears had been exhausted the night before. Jared had physically dominated her and further humiliated her by insisting she wait on him. His jeering laughter had echoed in the lodge as she was forced to wash him or be struck and finally, he had used her again, in the same cruel, ruthless manner as the first time.
A jealous Saloma glared hatefully at Mariah. If she had dared, Mariah would have willingly offered Jared as a gift to the love-sick Indian girl and stayed with Gray Hawk. Now, riding behind him, she glared resentfully at his back. He began to whistle a tune, merely to annoy her, and she had to press her lips together to hold back the curses she wanted to scream at him. What had ever made her trust him? Her own stupid naivete had made her a legal slave to him, and short of murder, he could do anything he pleased with her and no one would interfere. Dear God, how I wish I’d been obedient and married Jack! All this was her fault, she decided; her own stubborn willfulness
had totally destroyed her life. Head aching dully, she wondered where he was taking her and later, the next day when Jared stopped the horses for rest and water, she was to find out just how devilishly cruel he could be.
Around noon, when the sun sat high in a cloudless sky, they came to the creek. The familiar scene was changed, appearing pure and pristine beneath a mantle of snow. Her stomach jolted, threatening nausea as she stared at the spot where Clay had fallen dead by her violated body. She stared transfixed until rough hands seized her, pulling her down to the ground.
Jared dragged the resisting girl to the spot where he’d found Clay and when she attempted to run, he caught her from behind, his unyielding arms encircling her waist. One hand gripped her hair, forcing her head back to stare at the spot. She panted, breath steaming out into the cold air. “Thought you might like to see the creek again.” Her body trembled in his grip, tears silently slipping down a face that had suddenly whitened beneath the golden tan.
I will faint again…if he doesn’t let me go, I will…I will…Mariah thought over and over again as sheer willpower kept her erect. “How can you be so cruel,” she said in a dull whisper.
Jared turned her to face him, his arms crushing her close. “It’s easy where you’re concerned, my love. I want you to memorize this spot, Mariah, and remember whose wedding band you wear. Until I don’t want you anymore, you belong to me. I swear on my life, I’ll kill the next man you look at, and I’ll make you watch while I do it!”
His hand gripped her chin tightly, fingers bruising her jaw. “Do I make myself clear?” Mariah went limp, her eyes glazing over as the spirit drained from her. He contemptuously released her, as though she were dirt, and he stalked over to the tethered horses and watered them.
Mariah stood stock-still as the fierce wind rising from the north threatened to blow her frail form away. If I survived Clay, I can stand Jared’s crude threats, she thought stoically. Staring down at the spot once more, she grew dizzy with memories—her last, giddy thought before the snow seemed to rush toward her was that she was making fainting a habit.
Through with the horses and anxious to get back to the ranch, Jared turned, cursing as he searched for Mariah. As he finally spotted the small shape lying in the snow, he dropped the reins and sprinted forward. Jesus, he thought remorsefully, I pushed her too far. He knelt in the snow, chafing her hands with his and carefully watching her face until the long dark lashes fluttered open. For a brief moment they stared at each other, and shared the common memory of the pleasure they had discovered by the creek. She glanced curiously at his face and he quickly hid his emotions, helping her to stand. “You ride the rest of the way with me. Your mare can follow.” His cool, reserved tone revealed none of his inner turmoil as he carried her toward the horses, lifting her easily to Kito’s back and jumping up behind her.
Mariah remained subdued for the remainder of the trip and when they arrived at the ranchhouse, passively allowed him to lift her down. The door opened and Lil walked out, a hooded cloak shielding her against the cold weather. “I see you’ve found her. You should have left the bitch to the Blackfoot!”
Mariah flinched as though she’d been physically struck and a spark of temper flared to her rescue. She stared at the woman she knew to be her real mother. Her voice was clear and cutting as she answered the woman’s crude remarks. “How good to see you again…MOTHER.” She smiled triumphantly as Lil’s face drained white and they glared at each other, like cats about to fight.
Jared had heard Lil’s bitchy remark and before he could warn her to shut up, Mariah’s astonishing reply had come. He stared from one to the other, but nothing in Lil’s manner denied the declaration of motherhood. Lil wheeled and stomped inside the house. Frowning, Jared shoved Mariah up the steps. “It’s too damn cold to fight out here.” Carrying his saddlebags, he followed her inside and threw them down. “Suppose you two cats try and keep from going for each other’s throats while I stable the horses.” He left the room and Mariah and her mother stared daggers at each other.
“I see Clay told you before he died,” Lil sneered at the girl. “It’s a shame you weren’t killed along with him!” She smiled, wickedly confident. “As it stands, Jared won’t ever believe a word you say again. You took him from me and I turned the tables—he’s mine again, whether you bear his name or not.”
“You planned the whole thing, didn’t you! Even I didn’t see through you and I should have.” She searched for a way to wound the woman. “Will he want you if he knows you have a daughter my age? What are you now, thirty-three, thirty-four? How long do you think your looks will last…Mother?” She spit the word “mother” out, reflecting her disgust. Lil reacted, stalking forward, and only Jared’s entry, as he stamped the snow from his feet, stopped her from attempting to strangle Mariah. She quickly controlled herself and her features were calmly serene as Jared entered the parlor.
He glanced from one to the other. “Expected to find you two screaming. Must have been restraint on someone’s part.” He ordered Mariah to follow him, leading her down the hall to her old room. Shoving the door open, he followed her inside and shut the door, locking it. “Now, I think we’d better get something straight. We’re staying here as long as I want to. You can have your run of the place except for the stable. No riding…don’t trust you out of my sight.” He leaned one foot on the bed, watching her reaction.
“I’m not sure where I’ll be sleeping…maybe here, maybe with Lil. But when I come in, you better be ready and welcoming. Force gets boring after a while; I’d hate to leave marks all over your skin. I think it’ll be interesting to alternate between you and her, rather like my own small harem!” He smiled at the idea, still watching her closely for signs of rebellion.
Seething inside, Mariah had already learned not to reveal honest emotions. In a sweetly composed voice, she taunted him. “I agree, Jared. What interesting comparisons can be made between a mother and daughter!” It was her turn to watch for a reaction. Jared frowned impatiently.
“What are you babbling about? I honest-to-God think those four months left you a little touched!”
“Oh, Lil admits it herself, darling. Clay told me. It was one of the things he threw in my face before he raped me. In the Indian attack that killed Mike Draper, Lil was raped by Black Wolf, a northern Blackfoot.” She turned and sat on the bed, enjoying the shock in his face. “Eh, voilà …seventeen years later, the result of that glorious union stands before you. What’s the matter, Jared? Does it shock your sensibilities to find you’ve married a half-breed?” He was still staring, disbelief easing into awareness as he remembered Gray Hawk’s statement that Black Wolf had immediately accepted Mariah as his daughter. “So what will you do now? Send me back to the Blackfoot?”
Jared straightened, his mouth forming an enigmatic smile. He came closer, gently lifting her chin, until she was forced to look reluctantly into his eyes. “Not one chance in a million, my love. I think I’ll enjoy finding out more about you. After all, except in bed, we’re practically strangers.” He glanced down at her buckskin dress and gave her hair a teasing ruffle. “You’d best have a bath and change into something comfortable, Mariah. I’ll definitely be by later.” His hand lightly caressed the rounded swell of her breasts and before she could tense, he’d turned and sauntered from the room.
I’ll run away…back to Gray Hawk, she thought rebelliously. There was a natural openness about her Indian husband and he’d never teased her by blowing hot and cold like Jared.
Surprisingly, when she entered the bathroom, the tub had been filled with hot water and the room was steamy with it, diaphanous clouds obscuring everything. She dropped her robe and sinking into the water, allowed the warmth to soak through to her tired muscles. The sudden sound of the door locking drew her attention to it. Jared stood there, relaxing against it with his arms folded across his chest. Mariah glared a frown in his direction and turned forward, ignoring him as best she could. She had brought her favorite lavender soap and
began to lather herself, scrubbing until she glowed.
Through a cloud of steam, Jared appeared at her side, his robe hanging open, and as she stared openmouthed, he drew off the robe and joined her in the deep, roomy tub. His eyes challenged her to protest and instead, she drew back and made herself as small as she could. His hand reached out for her wrist, bringing her forward, and as he relaxed the length of the tub, she wound up lying on top of him, her lower body held firmly between his legs. “I’ve always wanted to take a bath with you, love, ever since I walked in on you that first night home.” Now he handed her a large sponge, a cocky, impudent grin on his handsome face, as he insisted she wash him. “You’ll have to start learning how to be a dutiful wife, Mariah.”
As her lips tightened to a stubborn line, Mariah grabbed the sponge and soaped it, and began to scrub hard at his chest. She glanced up a minute, and something about his confident, domineering smile grated on her nerves. Without a second thought, she shoved the soapy sponge all over his face, delighting as he sputtered, disarmed by the soap in his eyes. In a moment, he’d managed to rinse his face and stop the burning in his eyes enough to fix her with a thoroughly vengeful look.
“You want to play…eh?” Jared made a quick sideways move and pushed Mariah’s head beneath the water. She fought against his hold, coming up sputtering and breathless. Her nails dug into his side and Jared laughed heartily, shoving her down once more. She came up, shaking like a cat who’d just been dunked, and droplets of water flew everywhere at once.
“You devil! Ooh, I could choke you! How dare…” She stopped cursing, as his hand moved toward her again. “No, Jared, don’t…” the hand came relentlessly closer, “please, Jared, not again.” Her mouth had formed a deliciously tempting pout as she pleaded for him to cease.
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