Silken Savage

by Catherine Hart

Tanya’s furious look matched his. “You’ll undoubtedly be damned any way you care to view it, Jeffrey, but I’ll rule my own life, thank you, and you have no part in my plans for my future. Now kindly take your hand from my arm.”

  “I’d strongly advise you to do as the lady requests, Lieutenant.”

  Jeffrey’s head swivelled to find Adam lounging indolently in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. As relaxed as he seemed, Tanya could sense Adam’s fury, muscles tensed to spring at any moment.

  Kit stood at his side, ready to attack if given the order.

  Cursing beneath his breath, Jeffrey released Tanya's arm.

  Adam commanded, “Come here, Tanya.”

  Immediately she crossed to stand in the shelter of his embrace, as his arm encircled her shoulder. “You see, Young,” Adam pointed out deliberately, “the lady is with me.” His dark eyes dared Jeffrey to make a move.

  With a muttered oath, Jeffrey slammed out of the house, banging the door heavily behind him.

  “I could have handled him,” Tanya murmured softly into Adam’s shirt.

  “You shouldn’t have to,” he replied evenly. “You are mine to protect, and I thoroughly enjoyed doing so just now. I have a few scores to settle with Lieutenant Young, but the time is not right just yet. Someday, someday.”

  Julie, thoroughly upset by Jeffrey’s abrupt departure, took refuge in her room. That left only Melissa to accompany Adam and Tanya on their walk.

  “Melissa, you won’t be hurt if we ask you to disappear for a while, will you?” Adam asked once they were on their way. “Take Kit for a walk, pick some flowers, talk to the birds; just don’t come back for at least half an hour.”

  “Or longer,” Tanya added, her eyes twinkling merrily.

  Melissa pretended to be insulted. “Well!” she huffed, pointing her small nose to the sky. “I can tell when I’m not wanted. You don’t have to knock me over the head with a brick to get a point across.”

  “Which is more than I can say for some people, mainly one Lieutenant Jeffrey Young,” Tanya grumbled testily.

  “Shall I stand guard?” Melissa offered with a grin.

  “Somehow I don’t think you’ll want surprise guests breaking in on your — activities.”

  Adam laughed. “For someone as timid as you are sometimes, Melissa, you can be very astute. Just give a whistle if someone comes along. We won’t be far.”

  Melissa blushed and giggled. “I think you should know that I never could learn to whistle,” she confessed.

  Tanya rolled her eyes heavenward. “Then just send Kit to alert us. We wouldn’t want to offend your sensibilities.”

  Tanya stretched her nude body full length on the moist grass, watching as Adam removed his clothes. The sunlight dappling through new leaves shone on her skin, and her golden eyes glowed with expectation.

  “Hurry, Panther,” she pleaded, holding out her arms to him. “I need you so much!”

  He came into her arms, wrapping himself about her. “You must remember to call me Adam, my love, at least for a while,” he reminded as his lips found the soft skin of her neck.

  “Mmmm,” her answer was lost as his touch carried her into a world of sensual pleasure. Time became meaningless as they teased and tempted one another with heated caresses. Her hands clutched at the muscles of his shoulders, his back, his thighs, as he led her along the paths of love. His lips did not miss one square inch of her feverish body as he rediscovered her delight.

  “Love me, my darling. Love me,” she whimpered, her desires flaring beyond all limits.

  “Be patient, my greedy kitten,” he murmured with a soft chuckle. He guided her hands and lips to aching areas of is own body, and she gladly gave back all the pleasures he bestowed upon her.

  Finally, both of them ablaze with desire, he plunged into her, silencing her cries of delight with his lips. Every nerve responding in unison with his, she met him move for move, following as he led her ever higher on the spiraling staircase of ecstasy. Unconsciously she scored his back with her fingernails as her passions shattered in a violent cataclysm that triggered his own devastating explosion of rapture.

  Replete, she lay serenely snuggled in his arms. “I could search the world over and never find another love such as ours,” she purred, her head pillowed on his chest. “I was lost without you, Panther.”

  “Adam,” he corrected gently, then answered her thoughts. “That is because we are only whole when we are together. Our souls are united for all eternity, and our love will live long past the time when our bodies turn to dust.”

  Chapter 19

  THE ENTIRE next week, everywhere Tanya went, Adam was sure to turn up. When she went to tea at someone’s home, if Adam could find a legitimate excuse for dropping in at the same time, he did so. If not, he invariably showed up in time to escort her home.

  She and Julie spent part of one day helping George inventory his stock of ladies’ apparel at the mercantile, and Adam came in, decided he had nothing better to do, and spent the afternoon helping them. Not that he was all that much help, but they had a few hilarious hours watching him sort through everything from bonnets to ladies’ undergarments.

  Tanya saw another side of Panther that she’d barely glimpsed before. He had a fantastic sense of humor that often reduced her to helpless giggles. He had a remarkable head for business, displaying a sharp intelligence that rivalled that of any Eastern lawyer or businessman Tanya had ever met. Also, he displayed a disturbing knowledge of women and what they liked, and enough charm to lure bees away from honey.

  One day he caught up with Tanya and her mother just as they’d started shopping. For hours he patiently escorted them from store to store, waiting as they tried on bonnets, dresses and shoes. He offered sound advice on colors and fabrics, gallantly volunteered to carry their purchases, and treated them to tea in a small restaurant when they were done. By the end of the day, Sarah was completely won over. To her he seemed a saint and Sir Galahad rolled into one, and she told Tanya point-blank that she’d be a fool to turn him down if he offered marriage.

  Twice that week Tanya invited Adam to the house for dinner. It warmed her heart to see him playing with Hunter and Mark. Though Mark was only an infant, he responded to Adam with instant rapport. Whenever Adam would pick him up, he’d laugh and coo, his black eyes sparkling. It was Adam who discovered Mark’s first tooth breaking through. His gentleness and affection for the children drew the approval of the entire family.

  It was blatantly obvious to all that Adam was courting Tanya. He made no secret of it, taking every opportunity to hold her hand or put his arm about her in front of the others. He complimented her extravagantly, made her laugh more than she had in months, and centered his attention solely on her. He was courteous, gallant, thoughtful, and for the most part, respectful.

  He presented her with flowers, and made her blush when he told her she outshone them. He brought her chocolates, brushing off her hesitancy by telling her he’d missed being here at Easter to give them to her.

  Though she yearned to speed the courtship along, Tanya knew that to appear too eager would make people wonder. After months of professing her undying love for her Cheyenne husband, she had to go slowly at first.

  For Adam’s part, he deliberately held things at an even pace, proceeding with what he was sure was acceptable behavior. He did not want to offend Tanya’s parents and upset all his and Tanya’s plans. Still, every few days he would arrange to meet with Tanya privately, mostly with Melissa’s aid.

  Justin Kerr was also becoming a frequent visitor at the Martin house. He lived only a few doors down the street, and was brilliant at inventing excuses to drop by. Should his mother’s hens happen to lay an extra dozen eggs that day, Justin would naturally offer them to Elizabeth Martin first, and then stay to chat with Melissa. As a budding young lawyer, he offered his legal services to George and Edward and talked them into making new wills. This required several trips to the Martin home, of course. And when invite
d to stay to dinner on these occasions, he’d accept.

  Justin and Adam saw more of each other coming and going from the Martin home than they did anywhere else, even though Adam was staying at the Kerr’s while he was in town. Though Adam admitted to Justin that he was courting Tanya, he did not tell his friend all. Justin knew that he was serious about Tanya, but he hadn’t the slightest inkling of Adam’s secret identity nor the fact that Adam was actually Tanya’s long-lost Cheyenne husband. Though he saw Adam’s genuine enjoyment with Hunter and Mark, it never dawned on him that Adam was their father. The only thing Justin knew was that Adam had his heart set on marrying Tanya Martin, and that Jeffrey Young was still making a pest of himself.

  “What is Lieutenant Young’s problem?” Justin asked Melissa one day. “Can’t he see Tanya is not interested in him?”

  “He sees only himself,” Melissa explained. “He’s so self-centered it is sickening! He refuses to believe any woman could not want him.”

  “For God’s sake, why not?” Justin asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

  “It is rather complicated, Justin. You see, Jeffrey was Tanya’s fiancéat the time she was captured by the Cheyenne. She was coming here to marry him.”

  Justin nodded.

  “Jeffrey was with Custer’s troops when they attacked the Cheyenne village. He was one of the first to spot Tanya and me, and he was delighted to find her alive. But he was not so overjoyed to discover she had an Indian husband and two sons. Also, he failed to understand why she did not view him as her savior and fling herself into his arms.”

  “Which she did not, because of her love for her husband,” Justin suggested.

  “Partly,” Melissa continued. “Two and a half years is a long time, Justin, and a lot can happen to alter your life. Not only did Tanya love Panther, but she discovered that what she had felt for Jeffrey was not love at all, but only girlish infatuation. Besides, she’d found a new and better life with the Cheyenne, one that suited her perfectly. That is the primary reason Tanya fared so much better than the rest of us. She adapted to the Cheyenne life so readily; totally and willingly. Of course, it helped that Panther treated her so well.”

  “He did?” Justin found this hard to believe.

  “He adored her,” Melissa avowed fervently. “He loved her every bit as much as she did him. It was a beautiful thing to behold.”

  Justin needed to know more; anything that might help his friend Adam win Tanya where Jeffrey had failed. “Is that the entire reason Tanya rejected Jeffrey?”

  Melissa shook her head. “Not entirely. Tanya saw how Jeffrey reacted to Hunter and Mark. He resents and dislikes them because they are halfbreeds, and she knows it. Tanya will not have her sons rejected or made to feel like second-rate citizens. She is proud of them and their father.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “Also, Tanya had become a part of the tribe long before the attack came. Chief Black Kettle and his wife had adopted her as their daughter before she married Panther.”

  “Whew!” Justin whistled. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Few people do. The day of the attack, Tanya saw her adopted parents killed by the white soldiers. She watched as they were shot in the back and then trampled by horses.” Melissa shuddered. “We watched together as a nightmare unfolded before our eyes. In all my time with the Cheyenne, I have never seen such heinous acts as the soldiers performed that day. Prisoners were raped, and everything in the village — tipis, dogs, people and horses — were killed and then burned. Few escaped or survived, and nothing was left to be salvaged. The attack came before dawn, while everyone was sleeping, and by noon the village was completely destroyed.”

  Justin was dumbfounded. “My God! I’ve never heard of such things! That’s certainly not the story the military circulated.”

  Melissa scowled. “That doesn’t surprise me! It wouldn’t surprise Tanya, either. She despises what they did, and I can’t blame her. As much as I hated living with the tribe, and as thankful as I am to be back, I can never condone what I saw that day. Neither can Tanya, and she knows Jeffrey is not completely blameless. He was there, and undoubtedly contributed his fair share in the massacre that took place. I doubt whether Tanya can ever forgive him that. In her eyes, he is a murderer.”

  “I can’t say I blame her,” Justin responded thoughtfully. “Tell me something, Melissa. You’ve said Tanya loved her husband, and I’ve heard her say the same thing. Do you think Adam stands a chance with her? He’s a very good friend, and I’d hate to see him hurt.”

  “I’d say his chances are quite good,” Melissa assured him gently. “Tanya needs some love in her life. It has been five months since the attack.”

  “Yes, but what if her husband somehow manages to come for her? Wouldn’t she go with him?”

  Melissa gave a small laugh. “You are worrying unnecessarily, I promise you. If he has not come for her by now, he never will.” And that was the complete and utter truth.

  The last week in April brought balmy, sunny days that sent everyone into fits of spring fever. Tanya yearned to ride across the open land, and when Adam suggested just this, she complained, “I’d like nothing better, Adam, and I’d prefer to ride Wheat, but after my escape attempt, Jeffrey took him from me.”

  Anger flared dangerously in Adam’s dark eyes. “You shall have your mare back again, my darling, I promise you.”

  That very day, Adam spoke with Tanya’s father privately. “Edward, I understand Lt. Young has confiscated Tanya’s mare.”

  Edward blinked in surprise. “Yes, I guess he did. I’d forgotten all about it. I didn’t say anything at the time, since it seemed a good way to prevent Tanya from trying to leave again.”

  “She’d like the horse returned now,” Adam stated. Edward’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know if that’s really a good idea yet, Adam.”

  “What you mean is, you are not sure you trust Tanya not to attempt to run off again,” Adam interpreted.

  Edward flushed uncomfortably, but argued, “I’d think you’d concur with that, Adam. I thought you were interested in my daughter. It would be to your advantage, too, if she were not tempted to return to her Cheyenne husband.”

  Adam smiled. “I don’t think there’s much chance of that now. In any case, if we have to hold Tanya here by force, it is not much of a victory for us, is it? I’d like to take Tanya riding, and since you are her father, you can demand that Jeffrey return her mare.”

  “You seem awfully sure,” Edward commented, eyeing Adam speculatively. “I’d hate to see Tanya run away just when she seems to be adapting to our way of life again.”

  “Trust me, Edward — and trust Tanya.”

  Edward sighed. “All right, Adam. I’ll talk to Jeffrey this afternoon. I just wish I could be as confident as you are.”

  True to his word, Edward talked to Jeffrey, and at supper that evening, he told Tanya and Adam that he’d had no success. “That young pup refused to release the horse to me!” he bellowed. “He’s handing me some cock-and-bull story about its now belonging to the U.S. Army, part of property confiscated in the raid at Washita!”

  “That’s a lie!” Tanya exclaimed. “Before they shot the other horses, General Custer offered me my choice of mounts. When Melissa pointed out that Wheat was my horse, there was no objection. Everyone knew the mare was mine!”

  “Calm down, Tanya,” Adam advised. “I’ll get your mare for you. In fact, I’ll see to it right after dinner. Jeffrey Young is in for a rude awakening.”

  At his quietly determined tone, Tanya became aware of his anger. “I’m coming with you, Adam,” she declared.

  Adam grinned. “You sound alarmed. Are you afraid I’ll hurt him?”

  “No, dear sir,” Tanya assured him with an innocent, wide-eyed look that didn’t fool him at all. “I’m afraid you’ll killhim! What good will you be to me swinging from the end of a rope?”

  Adam pulled the buggy up at the corral the cavalry had erected near their Pueblo he
adquarters. There was no actual fort in Pueblo, but the Army kept a post in town to defend the residents if need be. Next to the corral was a stable and a small office. It was to this office Adam headed, a determined glint in his onyx eyes, Tanya scurrying along beside him.

  A young private sat behind a desk just inside the door. To Tanya’s dismay, she recognized him as one of the men who had accompanied Jeffrey on his trek to intercept her flight in February.

  Apparently surprised by her sudden appearance, he jumped to his feet, almost toppling his chair in his haste. “Oh, Miss Martin! Are you looking for the lieutenant?”

  “Not particularly, Private. I’ve come to claim my horse,” Tanya replied decisively. “Would you be so kind as to bring her to me? I noticed she’s just outside in the corral.”

  The private’s face turned red and he blurted, “No, ma’am, I can’t do that. Lieutenant Young has given orders.”

  At this point Adam stepped into the conversation. “Private, the mare is Miss Martin’s private property. Her father is in agreement, and there is no reason the lady should be denied her horse.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” the private blustered, “but Lieutenant Young would have my hide if I let the horse go against his orders.”

  The words were no sooner out of his mouth when the door swung open to admit Jeffrey. “What’s the problem here, Private?” he asked, as if he didn’t already know. His cool blue eyes skimmed over Adam, obviously dismissing him, and zeroed in on Tanya.

  “I want my horse, Jeffrey,” she told him bluntly in a no-nonsense tone.

  Jeffrey smiled tightly and shook his head. “No, darling, that’s quite impossible. As I informed your father, the horse is now Army property.” His tone implied he was speaking either to an ignorant child or a moron.

  Tanya glared at him. “That’s nonsense, Jeffrey, and you know it. Wheat has belonged to me for years, and General Custer let me take her. Besides, as was pointed out when the Cheyenne ponies were slaughtered, an Indian-trained horse is of absolutely no earthly use to the cavalry.”