"Did the medicine man tell you how long it would be before the child would be born?"
"No. He was unsure," Jeffery replied, looking up at the stairs to see if there was any sign of Tabo, the medicine man.
"I wish Mara were here, Jeffery, she would have the words to comfort you, while I do not. Since I was not with her when Hamez and Tamera were born, I do not know how long it should take."
Jeffery glanced at Tajarez. He felt closer to him than to his own brother, David. He thought if Tajarez were not king, he would still be an outstanding man whom other men would follow willingly. He was born to lead, and Jeffery was proud to call him his friend, as well as his king. At times he would be in awe of his powerful brother-in-law, for when he was acting the king, he could be very commanding. Jeffery smiled to himself. There was a very human side to Tajarez that others did not see. It was always apparent when he was with Mara or the twins.
His thoughts were transferred to his own wife, Sasha, who was now in labor and about to give birth to their child. He wished he could be with her, but he knew she would not welcome him. No Lagonda woman would allow her husband to see her in pain.
"It seems like I have been waiting forever, Tajarez," Jeffery said leaning back and closing his eyes.
“I am sure that wait is all but over. It cannot be much longer," Tajarez assured him.
Both Tajarez and Jeffery stood up slowly as they watched Tabo descent the stairs. The medicine man approached them smiling. Jeffery waited for the man to speak while Tajarez gave him a reassuring glance. When Jeffery had first come to the hidden valley he had scoffed at the Indian who had called himself medicine man, having heard tales of the medicine men who chanted and waved sticks about, claiming to cure sicknesses. He had soon discovered that Tabo had knowledge that would surpass that of many doctors of the white world.
"How is my wife? Has she had the baby yet?" he asked nervously.
"She is doing well. At this time she is holding your newborn infant. She asked that I send you to her."
"Is the child a son or a daughter?" Tajarez asked.
"The child is a son, my king. A bit on the small side, but nonetheless healthy, and perfectly formed."
Tajarez grinned broadly at Jeffery and clapped him on the back. "It is good, Jeffery, you are the father of a son."
Jeffery shook his head, and then smiled widely. "I am a father," he said, letting the words sink in.
Jeffery had started toward the stairs when there was a commotion at the main entrance of the anteroom. He paused, as his gaze followed Tajarez's to the door.
Tajarez's eyes narrowed, and he felt as if he could not breathe. His mind could not accept the haggard look he saw on Palomas's face. Where was Mara? Oh no, Great Father, I cannot bear this, he cried on the inside. He knew by the look on Palomas's face that something had happened to Mara. He silently waited for Palomas to approach him, fearing to hear, yet needing to know about his beloved Mara.
Tajarez felt Jeffery beside him. He was aware that Tabo had withdrawn.
Jeffery saw his own fear mirrored in Tajarez's eyes. It was too soon for Mara to have returned, and Palomas would never return alone unless something had happened to her.
"Where is your queen? Why do you stand before me without her?" Tajarez demanded.
Palomas lowered his head, unable to meet Tajarez's piercing gaze. He dropped to his knees as silence descended on the room. The only sound that could be heard was Tajarez's heavy breathing. Slowly Palomas raised his head to look into the face of his king, and he knew he would rather be walking in the spirit world than relay the news about Mara to the king.
"My king, it pains me to tell you that the queen is missing," Palomas said, choosing his words with care.
Tajarez grabbed Palomas by the shoulders and hauled him to his feet. "What do you mean?" Tajarez's voice was spoken with the sharpness of a whiplash.
Palomas could feel the painful grip on his shoulders, but it in no way matched the pain in his heart. Tajarez released him and Palomas sank down on his knees, while he told the king all that had happened, starting with the river crossing and ending with his being shot by the two white men.
Tajarez did not speak immediately. His eyes moved across Palomas's chest, viewing the angry red scar left by the bullet that had entered his body. When he finally spoke his voice was harsh, laced with disbelief and anger.
"If you have not found Mara, why are you here? If she is dead why are you not dead as well? Your one purpose in life was to keep her safe for me. Why have you not done so?"
"I will gladly forfeit my life, my king. It is no more than I deserve," Palomas said, expecting to hear his death was imminent.
Tajarez's hands moved to Palomas's throat. Palomas did not flinch or look away as his king applied pressure.
Jeffery rushed forward and pried Tajarez's hands free of Palomas's throat, and Palomas fell to the floor. "My God, Tajarez, it was not his fault. Can you not see he is as devastated over Mara's disappearance as you and I are?" Jeffery said, trying to mask his own fear for the moment.
Palomas and Jeffery watched as Tajarez raised his face upward, and a savage yell issued from between his lips, a yell that echoed around the high ceilings of the anteroom.
"Mara, beloved! Great Father, I can not bear the pain!"
Jeffery motioned for Palomas to withdraw, then he turned to Tajarez who still had his face turned upward and his fists tightly clenched at his side.
"Tajarez, we have to think Mara is all right, and we will find her."
"No, Jeffery, Mara is dead. I had a dream about her, and in that dream she told me she could not stay with me. Never have I felt such hopelessness. How will I live without her?"
Jeffery gripped Tajarez by the shoulders and felt the tremor that shook his body. Tajarez tried to turn away, but Jeffery did not miss seeing the tears that shone in the depth of Tajarez's dark eyes.
"I will not live one day longer than it takes to find her dead body, Jeffery. This I swear."
Jeffery had never seen Tajarez in such a state before. His own fears for his sister's safety were pushed aside. He knew that he would have to be strong. Tajarez would need him.
"Tajarez, I do not feel Mara is dead. It seems to me that if she was taken by the two trappers, they would not harm her. We shall return to the place where she was last seen and make a wide, sweeping search of the surrounding countryside. I have never known you to give up so easily."
Hope flickered to life in Tajarez's eyes, but it soon faded. "Palomas would never have returned unless he had made a thorough search. He must believe Mara is dead," Tajarez said, hardly above a whisper.
"You can stay here if you want to, believing the worst. As for myself, I am going to look for my sister!"
Tajarez pushed his grief aside and raised his head. "Select ten of your best warriors, Jeffery. We leave before first light in the morning. Stand beside me, my friend. I will need your strength," Tajarez admitted.
Later Tajarez climbed the stairs to the nursery. When he entered the room, Vista was just putting Tamera in bed for the night. Tajarez lifted his daughter in his arms and held her soft little body against him.
"Leave me, Vista," he said harshly.
Vista blinked her eyes, wondering why the king had spoken so gruffly to her, but it was not for her to question. She walked quickly to the door, but before she could leave his voice stopped her.
"Your brother Palomas has returned. He has been badly wounded. You might want to see him. Tell him we leave in the morning, and to be ready to travel."
Vista's mouth gaped open, and she had many questions that went unanswered as he dismissed her with a curt nod.
When Vista had gone Tajarez hugged Tamera tightly. The tears from his eyes fell on her tiny head as she curled up in his arms. His throat was working convulsively as he tried to speak. "I have lost your mother. If it were not for you and your brother ..." his voice trailed off.
Tamera, not understanding her father's words nor his grief, patted his cheek and jabb
ered to him in baby talk.
Hamez pulled at his father's tunic, trying to get his attention, so Tajarez sat down on the floor so he could hold both of his offspring in his lap.
Moments passed as he hugged his children in silence. Finally he spoke, hoping he could make them understand that he must go away. "I am going to be away from you for a while. I do not like leaving you since your mother ... is also away. I promise you that I will find your mother. This I swear. I want each of you to be good and patient while I am away. If the Great Father wills it that your mother is lost to us forever, I shall return to you." Tajarez knew he was talking irrationally and that the twins could not possibly understand all of his words. It did not matter, he felt the words needed to be said.
"I will return to you because your mother would expect it of me," he said more to himself than to his children.
Tajarez had no idea how long he sat there on the floor holding the children, talking soothingly to them. But he did not leave until the tears on his face had dried, and the twins had both fallen asleep. His kissed each of them and then placed them in their beds. Walking quietly across the room he closed the door softly behind him.
Jeffery paused beside the bed and looked down at Sasha. The afternoon sunlight filtered into the room and cast his face into the shadows. Sasha leaned forward so she could see him more clearly. Seeing the look on his face, which he did not try to hide, she frowned.
"Did not Tabo tell you that the baby and I are well?" she asked.
He sat down beside her and moved the blanket aside so he could see his son.
The infant's head was covered with soft brown hair. He was sleeping, so Jeffery could not see his son's eyes. His skin color was lighter than his father's, since Jeffery was tanned from the sun.
"Yes," I was told that the both of you are in good health," he said as he examined a tiny hand, amazed at the smallness of it. Jeffery felt love and pride in his new son, but it was overshadowed by his fear for Mara's safety.
Looking up at his wife he tried to smile, but did not quite succeed. Instead his face creased into a painful grimace. His green gaze swept Sasha's lovely face to rest on her soft brown eyes. He saw puzzlement in her returned gaze.
"What has happened, Jeffery? I can see that something is wrong," she asked fearing to hear the reason he appeared so upset.
Sasha loved Mara, and he dreaded telling her what had occurred, but he knew he must, and there was no way to soften the blow.
"I have to go away in the morning. I cannot tell you how long I will be gone."
Sasha, who knew her husband well, read the pain in his eyes. "It is Mara, is it not? Has something happened to her?"
Jeffery nodded, and then told her all that Palomas had said to him and Tajarez. Afterwards he held Sasha in his arms, giving and seeking comfort. They held each other, each trying to be strong for the sake of the other.
There was a knock on the door and Jeffery arose-to answer it. He was surprised to see Tajarez.
Stepping back he allowed him to enter the room. Jeffery tried to read Tajarez's thoughts, but by this time Tajarez was in command of himself, and his face was a mask.
"I have come to see your son, Jeffery," he said crossing to the bed where Sasha uncovered her baby so her cousin could admire him. She was teary-eyed as Tajarez bent over the infant.
"May I hold him, Sasha?"
Sasha nodded. "Yes, my king."
Tajarez lifted the tiny baby in his arms and smiled slightly. "He is a fine son, Jeffery. Mara would be so proud. I wish she were here to see this child."
Sasha lowered her head hearing the pain in his voice. He was hurting, and he must be half out of his mind over Mara's disappearance; yet he had come to see her new son.
Tajarez handed the baby back to Sasha and turned to Jeffery. "He will be a companion for my son. I will declare that they both receive their training together."
Sasha tried to feel pleasure at the great honor that had just been bestowed upon her son. To be raised as companion to the prince royal was a very high honor indeed, but her happiness was overshadowed by her fear for Mara. She wondered at Tajarez's strength, when she knew what he was feeling on the inside.
"My king, you will find Mara, I know you will."
He touched her face softly. "Pray that it is so, little cousin," he said as he left the room to be alone.
Palomas watched as Tajarez knelt down and examined the ground. "You are sure this was where you and Matio were shot?"
"Yes, there can be no doubt. I was standing here, and when I was wounded, I fell backwards into the water."
Tajarez stood up and looked at Palomas. "I can see now that you could have done no more than you did to help Mara."
Palomas lowered his eyes. He knew it was Tajarez's way of saying he was sorry for the harsh words he had spoken to him. It was as close to an apology as the king would ever come, but it did not lessen the guilt Palomas felt about Mara.
Tajarez turned his back to Palomas, realizing he still resented him for not taking better care of Mara. But knowing how impulsive Mara was, it was not hard for him to visualize her thinking it an adventure to plunge into the river, although Palomas had asked her to wait.
Jeffery swung his body down the overhanging cliff and stood beside Tajarez. "There are no signs, no footprints, nothing. I believe it would be wise for us to split up and comb each side of the river."
"No. To search the river would be a waste of time." Tajarez glanced at Palomas. "You did search this area thoroughly, did you not?"
"It is so, my king."
Tajarez climbed up the embankment and when Jeffery and Palomas joined him, he made a sweeping gaze of the countryside. "We will separate here, and make a wide swing. Look for any clues. An old camp, tracks, perhaps even a cabin. I do not want anything overlooked," Tajarez told them.
"I think that is the wise thing to do," Jeffery agreed. "I will take Palomas with me, since he is better at tracking than I am."
Tajarez raised his eyebrow, knowing Jeffery wanted to keep Palomas away from him, since he blamed Palomas for Mara's disappearance.
"As you wish, Jeffery. Leave a trail that will be easy to follow . . . Carve three notches on a tree and I shall do the same. If either of us finds anything we can easily find the other."
"How far do you want the search to go?" Jeffery asked.
Tajarez placed his hands on his hips and glanced down at the river below him. "We shall not give up until we have found her alive, or I have proof that she is . . . dead."
10
The end of the summer is now drawing nigh.
I seek who I am as the first snowflakes fly.
The passing of time did not have any great significance for Mara. The summer had gone quickly as August gave way to September, and an early frost had turned the trees to a rainbow of autumn colors. It was a breathtaking sight against the backdrop of the bright blue sky.
Mara shaded her eyes and watched the wild geese that flew overhead, their vee formation stretched as far as the eye could see as they winged their way south. Something kept nagging at the back of her mind, as if she remembered that she was supposed to be somewhere at this time. She pushed her thoughts aside and entered the cabin, thinking she would never remember who she was, or where she belonged.
The child she carried within her body was very active, and her stomach was well rounded, but she chose to ignore her condition, as if not thinking about it would make it go away.
For several days now her mind had been troubled.
Jake and Zeke had told her they were going to take her to the doctor at the trading post to have her baby, but she had decided that she did not want to have her child among strangers.
Mara frowned as she heard Jake enter. She looked up from the pie crust she was rolling out and watched him dump an armload of wood in the woodbin.
Jake glanced up at Mara and saw that there was a white streak of flour on her cheek. He could not help smiling at her.
"You attack that dough
as if you are mad at it, little princess. You got something on your mind?" he said leaning against the cupboard and folding his arms over his chest.
Mara looked at him from beneath half-closed eyelashes. "I have made a decision, and you and Zeke are not going to like it."
Jake silently watched her shape the pie dough to a pan, and waited for her to speak.
"There is no way you can change my mind, Jake, so do not even make the attempt," she said stubbornly, and had he known her longer, he would have known by the set of her chin that she meant just what she said.
He wiped a streak of flour from her cheek with his finger and gave her a crooked smile. "Care to tell me what you are so all-fired set on?"
Mara began slicing apples into the piecrust, as she avoided looking at Jake. "I was going to tell you and Zeke when you were together, but I will tell you and you can tell him," she told him as she sprinkled sugar over the apple mixture.
"Sure, go ahead, can't think what you are so skittish about though."
She placed her hands on her hips and turned to face him, a look of defiance on her beautiful face. "I am not going to the trading post to have this baby, and nothing you or Zeke can say will cause me to change my mind. I have no intentions of allowing you and Zeke to push me off on strangers. You are the only family I have, and if you abandon me, I will have no one."
"You know me and Zeke would never desert you. After the child is born me and Zeke will fetch you home, if that's what you want."
"Jake, I thought friends stood by one another. I want to have the baby here," she said, knowing she was being unreasonable and taking unfair advantage of his love for her. Tears glistened in her eyes, and she watched as all of Jake's resistance crumbled.
Jake was feeling very distressed by her tears, as well as by her attitude. If he had his way she would stay with him for the rest of his life. She had become very important to him and Zeke. Since she had been with them, this old cabin had turned into a home. This was the first time the princess had asked for anything, and he could not find it within him to deny her. But what about the baby? Should she not be with a doctor when her time came to give birth?
Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) Page 11
