by Bobbi Smith
"Mimi, it's me, Charles. I'm here now. I'll take care of you." He looked back at Paul. "Leave me alone with her. I don't want you in here with us."
"No." Paul stood firm. "I'm not leaving her, and when she recovers, we're going to be married."
"Don't you think it's a little late for that?" Charles snapped.
"It's never too late to love," Paul said, not flinching in the face of Charles's intimidation. "I've loved her all my life. I'm not going to lose her again."
"You didn't lose her! You threw her away! Just like you threw away Glynna!"
"I had no idea about Glynna. Do you really think, if I had known, that I would have been so low as to desert Mary Catherine when she was going to have my child?"
"That's exactly what I think."
"Well, you're wrong, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life proving it to Mary Catherine and you, and anyone else who doubts me."
"It's going to take a lifetime and more to convince me.
"I would never have left her alone to raise my daughter."
"Glynna is my daughter, not yours! You lost any right to claim her as your own when you walked out on her mother."
They glared at each other across the room. Neither man said any more.
Charles sat down in the chair beside the bed, while Paul went to stare out the window.
They kept their vigil together, waiting, hoping, praying...
Across the hall, Tom decided to play the host, though he didn't particularly want to make Edmund feel all that welcome.
"Would you like something to drink? A glass of water do all right?"
"Yes. Water would be fine." Edmund would have taken anything to get the old man out of the room. Tom kept staring at him, and it made him uncomfortable.
Once Tom had gone to get him the water, Edmund began to pace again. It was then that he heard Paul's and Charles's voices raised in anger. Curious, he went to stand in the doorway of the parlor to listen.
Edmund heard their every word.
Edmund couldn't move. All color drained from his face as he stood there, listening in horror to the truth of Glynna's parentage. He was aghast. Glynna was illegitimate! The woman he planned to marry was a bastard!
Immediately, Edmund understood why he hadn't liked her aunt. The woman was a slut!
And Charles... It boggled the mind to think that such an upstanding, successful businessman would be a party to such a deception.
The thought of returning to New York City right then and there appealed to Edmund. He wanted nothing to do with such deceit and lying. He almost made the decision to leave, but the thought of the Williams fortune held him there.
Edmund's lip curled in disgust as he digested what he'd just learned. He tried to be logical about it and think things through. This new revelation was certainly going to test his acting abilities. He had no doubt about that. It had been difficult enough for him to keep up the pretense that Glynna's safety was all that mattered to him, when, in truth, he'd been wondering if he would ever be able to lay a hand on her once she was returned to them from her time as a captive of the Comanche. He could well imagine what was happening to her while she was with the renegades, and it turned his stomach.
The woman Edmund wanted to take for his wife and bear his children had to be a delicate flower who was beyond reproach. Much was at stake here. The Moore family name was the most important thing. There could be no scandal attached to it.
Frowning, Edmund considered his options. He now knew for a fact that Glynna was a bastard. She was also being held by savages, who were doing God knew what to her. In spite of himself, he shuddered at the images his imagination conjured up. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Charles's holdings were impressive, but Edmund was wealthy in his own right. He didn't need the money, but marrying Glynna would have made him wealthier. He wondered if the money would be worth it. He cursed under his breath and went to sit on the sofa.
A happier thought occurred to him then as he tried to relax and ponder this state. With any luck, Glynna might never be found. He smiled at the thought. That scenario would solve all his problems.
If Glynna was never returned to them, he could play the devastated intended and then, after a reasonable length of time, get on with his life. He won dered how long he would have to wait for Glynna before announcing that he believed she was lost to him forever. He didn't want to appear too eager to end their association. Certainly his ties with Charles were beneficial, but the way he was feeling right now, tomorrow wouldn't have been soon enough.
The hours dragged by as Charles sat beside Mimi. He spoke to her almost constantly, urging her to recover and come home with him, exhorting her to pull herself out of the depths of unconsciousness and talk to him. She didn't stir or show any sign that she knew he was there.
"Has she come around at all in the last two days?"
"Once yesterday for a few minutes, but she was mostly incoherent and asking for Glynna."
Charles had been feeling helpless in the face of his sister's suffering, and at the mention of his daughter, he felt even more lost. For the first time in his life, all his money and influence meant nothing. He could not buy Mimi's health back, and there was no one he could use his influence on to help find Glynna.
"I hate this," he said in anguish. "There should be something I can do, some way to help."
"All we can do is sit here and wait, and hope that Hunt has found her."
Charles looked at Paul, his expression one of torment. "Who is this Hunt? I know he's Tom's son, but is he any good? Is there anyone else we can hire to go after her? A posse? Or maybe the Rangers would help? What about the cavalry? Wouldn't they be able to find her quicker? They're out chasing renegades all the time, aren't they?"
"Hunt started tracking them within twelve hours of the raid. There's no one else I trust more than Hunt to see this through."
"But can he do it?"
Paul looked at him seriously. "Yes. I'd trust him with my life."
"But would you trust him with your daughter?" Charles demanded hotly.
Their gazes locked. It was a moment of truth.
"Yes," he answered. "Hunt's faster and more effective than anyone else. He can go places where the army could never go. Trust me in this. Hunt's the best."
"But what if he can't find her? What if he comes back empty-handed?"
Paul looked pained. He knew it was a very real possibility that Glynna might already be dead. He didn't want to say anything, but it was something they had to face. "Well deal with that then. Right now, for all we know, Hunt's already found her, and they're on their way back home."
"I'd like to think that."
"So would I."
They settled in again, in silence.
Glynna had retired early that night, exhausted by the events of the day. Hunt lingered by the campfire with Painted Horse. He planned to stay in the village for one more day, and then start back to the Rocking M.The going would be long and hard, and he wanted to make sure Glynna was well rested and over her ordeal with Crouching Wolf before heading out. When they had returned to the tepee earlier, Glynna had changed back into her regular clothes. She'd discovered that one of her more personal items was missing, but thought one of the other women had taken it. As she'd been changing, Hunt had seen the extent of the marks the other man had left upon her body. The urge to kill Crouching Wolf had been strong then, and he had been glad the other warrior was gone from the village.
"You will stay another day?"
"Yes, but we must leave the following morning."
"You will walk back to your father's ranch?" Painted Horse asked with a half grin.
"My cousin is a very generous man. I am sure he has two mounts that he would be glad to give me for the trip." Hunt grinned back at him.
"I can find two horses, but they will not be as fine as Warrior."
"No twenty horses are as fine as Warrior. I'm going to miss him."
"But you have your bride."
G
lynna filled his thoughts then, and he smiled warmly. "Yes, I have my bride. She is worth ten Warriors. I made the best bargain."
"My vision was true. She was the prize you sought."
"She is my prize," he agreed, getting up. "And she is waiting for me now."
"Good night, Lone Hunter."
"It's going to be," he said, and flashed Painted Horse one last smile before he started off toward the tepee where his wife awaited him.
Wife. The thought that Glynna was his wife still had the power to amaze him. He knew he was play ing a treacherous game with himself, but he would face the consequences later. Right now, there was only Glynna, and she wanted him.
Hunt slipped almost silently into the dwelling and drew the door covering back down behind him.
"You're back," Glynna said softly as she heard him come inside.
"I was trying to be quiet so I wouldn't disturb you if you were asleep."
"I couldn't fall asleep until I knew you were here with me."
Glynna had been waiting for him, needing him. She shifted positions, bracing herself on one elbow. As she did, the blanket fell away from her shoulder to reveal one perfect, round breast.
Hunt's throat went dry as he stared at the beauty of her. "I don't think you're going to get much sleep now that I'm here," he managed, his gaze hot upon her.
Glynna gave a throaty laugh. "I was hoping you'd feel that way. I really wasn't very tired."
He went to her, mesmerized. She was lovely, and she was all his. They were here, together, in a world they had created-a world in which only they existed. There was no yesterday or tomorrow. There was only this moment in time and the glory of their love.
Hunt stripped away his clothing and joined her on the blankets. He had been worried that Crouching Wolf s abuse might have terrorized her. He had feared that she would not welcome him to her bed again. His fears had been unfounded. Glynna responded fully and ardently to his touch. With the greatest of care, he sought out each bruise on her pale skin and pressed a soft kiss to it.
"I'm sorry Crouching Wolf hurt you," Hunt whispered against her breasts.
"It doesn't matter anymore. You're here now."
Being in Hunt's arms was Glynna's heaven. She had never felt so safe as she did when she was with him. He was strong, yet gentle with her, and the combination was pure ecstasy.
When Hunt moved over her, they came together in a blaze of desire. There was no shyness between them. There was only love. Their kisses fueled the fire of their passion. Excitement seared them. They strained together, each touch inflaming their senses until the firestorm of their need consumed them.
In the aftermath of their love, they lay together, their limbs still entwined, their bodies still joined in love's embrace. They were at peace.
Glynna marveled at the power Hunt had over her. He had only to touch her, and she was his. She could not deny him, and she did not want to. If they could have spent the rest of their lives right there in that tepee, she would have been thrilled. In their safe haven, there was no future and no past, no danger, no hate, no fear. There was only Hunt and the endless pleasure of his love.
Glynna looked up at him, and saw that his eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep. Unable to resist, she pressed her lips to his chest, and she was rewarded when he moved powerfully against her.
"You aren't asleep?" she asked with a knowing smile, pleased that she had such a strong effect on him.
"No, I was just resting to regain my strength."
"Have you regained it yet?" Glynna let her hands drift down his back to his hips.
At her teasing, Hunt rolled over, bringing her beneath him. "What do you think?"
His hips were firmly nestled against hers, giving proof that he needed no further inspiration.
They made love sweetly then, savoring each kiss and caress. The heat and burning excitement of their first union was replaced by tenderness and a slowbuilding desire that was equally fulfilling in its own way.
When, at last, their need for one another was temporarily sated, they slept. They were at peace with the beauty and glory that was theirs in their refuge of love.
"Charles?"
The sound of Mimi's voice dragged Charles from sleep, and he jerked awake to find his sister staring at him, sanity in her eyes.
"Mimi! Thank heaven!"
Paul had been dozing in a chair by the window, and he awoke to the sound of Charles's delighted words. "Mary Catherine?"
"Paul?" she said in a strained voice as she tried to look for him.
"He's right here, Mimi," Charles assured her.
She sighed in relief as Paul came closer so she could see him.
"I'm here, darling." He took her hand.
"Charles how long?"
"I got here yesterday. I was so worried. I didn't know if you were going to recover or not. How do you feel?"
Mimi managed a pained, small laugh. "Terrible. I'm so weak."
"You've been running a fever," Paul explained as he put a hand to her forehead. "But you're cool now. The fever's broken."
"Charles, I'm glad you're here."
"I had to come. I had to make sure you were all right."
She nodded slowly. "What about Glynna? Has there been any word about her yet?"
"Nothing," Paul told her.
Her deep, abiding fear returned. "I hope she's still alive.. .But they were so deadly, so vicious." She closed her eyes at the memory of the raid. When she opened them again, her expression was haunted. "I don't know if she could live through that."
Charles fought down the terror that threatened at the thought of Glynna tortured by the Comanche. "She's a strong girl. Glynna will be fine. You'll see."
"I hope you're right, Charles. She's all we've got." Tears fell as she agonized over her daughter's fate. She closed her eyes and slept.
Charles and Paul regarded each other solemnly.
"She's going to be all right," Paul said in relief.
"Now if we just knew something about Glynna."
The rest of the night passed quietly.
Mimi awoke in the morning. She felt weak and terribly sore, but was simply glad to be alive.
"Didn't you go to bed last night?" she asked, star Cling Charles, who was again asleep in the chair beside the bed.
He sat bolt upright to find her smiling at him. "You're better!"
"Much, and I think I'd like something to eat," she announced. "But first could you help me sit up?"
"Are you sure you want to?" He knew how serious her wound was and worried that moving around might aggravate it.
"I have to. I just can't lie here anymore."
"I'll help you," Paul said from his chair at the foot of the bed. He got up and immediately went to her.
Charles faced off with him. "I told you when I got here, Chandler, that I was going to be taking care of Mimi from now on. I don't need your help."
"Charles," Mimi said gently. When he looked at her, she said, "But I do need his help."
Fury filled him. He wanted to lecture her about what a fool she was being, but this wasn't the time. He stepped aside and watched as Paul carefully put his arms around her and lifted her so she was in a sitting position. He quickly plumped the pillows and put them behind her.
"How do you feel?" Charles asked worriedly, seeing how pale she'd gone at the movement.
"It hurts, but I'm glad to be sitting up."
"I'll see about getting you some food," Paul said. "Tom and Maria will be thrilled to know you're improving."
"Oh, poor Maria," Mimi said sadly. "Diego's dead. How is she doing?"
"She'll never understand why God took her only son from her, and there was nothing we could say to make things any better."
"Diego died trying to protect us. I want to talk to her so I can tell her about it let her know how brave he was."
"I'll tell her."
A short time later, Maria came to Mimi. Charles and Paul left the two women alone.
"Maria,
Diego was a hero."
"My son?" She looked at Mimi hopefully, wanting to believe that he'd been special.
"Oh, yes. He was trying to save us when they shot him. He was going for his gun, but there were too many in the raiding party. We didn't stand a chance against them. But he didn't try to run or hide. He stayed there and tried to fight them off."
Maria began to cry, and Mimi embraced her.
"He was a wonderful boy. Ill miss him."
"I miss him every day. I don't know how I will keep going without him."
"I understand," Mimi said, and she did, for her own child was in her thoughts constantly. She would know no peace until her daughter was back where she belonged.
When Maria left, Tom and Edmund came in to speak with her. Mimi grew tired quickly. After eating a light breakfast, she fell asleep again. As the day aged, her periods of wakefulness grew longer and longer, and her strength began to return.
"Tomorrow I'm getting out of bed," Mimi declared as she nestled down to sleep for the night.
"Oh, no, you're not," Charles told her. He wanted to make sure she was nearly healed before she started moving around too much.
Mimi gave him her usual impatient look, and he laughed out loud.
"Why are you laughing?" she demanded indignantly. She wondered why he thought she was funny, when she was being very serious.
"I'm laughing because I'm happy. There was a time when I thought I'd never see you give me that look again!"
Her expression softened as she realized how Charles must have suffered worrying about her on the long trek to Texas. "I'm sorry I caused you so much pain."
"Nonsense. You're getting better. That's all that matters-that and Glynna coming home."
"She'll come back to us. I know she will."
"I hope you're right." He bent to kiss her forehead as she got ready to go to sleep.
"I know I am. Now you get some sleep."
"You, too. You look like you could use some."
"I could. Good night. I'll see you first thing in the morning."
