by Connie Mason
“Black Bear wasn’t responsible for our parents’ death,” refuted Laura tearfully. “It was a raiding party of renegade Comanches.”
“Comanches are all alike,” glowered Colt, deliberately avoiding the more colorful language he normally employed when speaking of Comanches.
Laura glared at him with stricken eyes, leaped to her feet, and stalked off toward the woods.
“Don’t wander too far,” Colt called after her departing back. “We’ll be leavin’ soon.”
“Damn your ornery hide, Colt!” Sam hissed furiously. “Leave the girl alone. Can’t you see she needs time to adjust to the change in her life? She’s still as much an Indian as …”
“… You are,” Colt finished disparagingly.
“You can treat me as vilely as you please if you feel the need to strike out at someone, I can take it,” Sam retorted tartly. “Laura is too vulnerable and open to hurt to take your needling. Let her grow accustomed to you slowly.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Colt allowed, eyeing her sourly. “Laura is white, she’ll come around soon enough.”
“Colt,” Sam ventured, hesitant to broach the subject yet anxious to settle things between them. “What happens now?” Her words brought a puzzled frown to Colt’s face. “With us, I mean. Are you going to hold that ridiculous robbery charge over my head or am I free to leave with Will?”
“You call robbery a ridiculous charge?” Colt demanded. “Men have hung for less. Have you forgotten our ‘marriage’?”
“Marriage!” snapped Sam, dismayed. “Surely you don’t mean to hold me to those vows. They were Indian rites, hardly binding, and you know it.”
“But you’re Indian, Violet Eyes, or so I’ve been told. Don’t you consider them bindin’?”
“Me?” Sam squeaked. “Of…course not.” Colt noted the slight hesitation in her voice, and a slow smile settled over his harsh features.
Sam wasn’t certain what she believed. Spirit Dancer’s words at the joining ceremony had as much meaning to her as if a preacher had married her and Colt. “I know you hate Indians, Colt, and I couldn’t live with a man who considered me less than human because of my mixed blood.”
Colt’s tawny eyes darkened with an emotion Sam found difficult to decipher. “I never thought the day would come when I’d desire an Indian squaw like I do you,” he admitted. His anger was directed not only at her but at himself. “Christ! I can’t remember when I’ve loved a woman so thoroughly, or received so much satisfaction in return. I didn’t think it possible to—I’ve hated Indians for so long—What I’m tryin’ to say is that makin’ love to a half-breed isn’t as repulsive as I reckoned.”
“Damn you, Colt! You’re a cold-blooded polecat with no heart and even less scruples. A braying ass has more brains than you do. Nothing could convince me to stay with you. If you need a whore, go see Dolly Douglas.”
She turned away, sickened. Colt leaped to his feet, his hurting grasp on her arm stopping her in her tracks. “You’re goin’ nowhere till I say so, Violet Eyes. You’re stayin’ at the ranch with Will and Laura. Your brother needs some stability in his life right now, and so does my sister. I doubt if I could keep Laura with me if you weren’t around. She’s grown to depend on you in the short time she’s known you. Besides,” he added, a slow grin curving his lips, “I still want you despite—everythin’.” His tawny eyes turned a dark, smoldering gold, and Sam fought the surge of hot desire his look evoked.
Colt did not miss the expression that passed over Sam’s face. It spoke eloquently of the passion they shared, of the response she could not deny. He pressed forward, his intention all too apparent, when Laura stepped into view.
“Hell’s bells,” Colt muttered beneath his breath. “Mount up. We’ve wasted too much time already.”
That night Sam was careful to make her bed next to Laura’s. Though Colt offered no objection, he bent her an austere look before placing his own bedroll a short ways apart from theirs. As long as he kept his distance, Sam reasoned, she could resist him. But if he decided he wanted her and used his considerable power over her, she was lost.
Several days later Sam recognized landmarks indicating they were on Howard property. No—not Howard property, she thought bitterly, Colter property. During their long days and night of travel, she and Laura maintained their close friendship while Colt became more sullen and withdrawn. Sam assumed it was due partly to Laura’s lack of acceptance of her brother and the white world. She failed to recognize the primary reason for Colt’s moodiness—her own remoteness and lack of response while he still desired her desperately.
Jake saw them first. He was working near the corral when he spotted three riders approaching the house. His hand poised above his six-shooter, he waited until they were close enough to recognize before relaxing his guard. Then he took off running, waving and shouting to alert the others. Hearing the commotion, Will came rushing from the bunk-house, his face wreathed in smiles when he saw Sam.
Sam slid from her horse, holding her arms wide as Will ran into them, hugging her tighdy. “I knew Colt would find you, Sam, I just knew it!”
Sam realized that after today Colt would be a hero in her brother’s eyes and didn’t know if she liked that or not.
Colt and Jake exchanged meaningful glances and a hearty round of back slapping. Then Jake hugged Sam fiercely. At length he noticed Laura standing quietly at Colt’s side. “What’s with the squaw? Is she some kind of hostage?”
Colt bent Jake a warning look that the foreman found confusing. Grasping Laura’s hand tightly, Colt pulled her forward. “Jake, this is my sister Laura.”
Dismay marched across Jake’s face, quickly followed by delight. “Sweet lovin’ Jesus, you found her! Only you could go after one woman stolen by Indians and bring back two. Amazin’, simply amazin’. Welcome back, Laura. Your brother’s been lookin’ for you as long as I’ve known him.”
Will approached Laura hesitantly, smiling shyly. He offered a hand in welcome. “I… I hope you’ll be happy here. Colt owns the ranch now, but it was ours, mine and Sam’s, once.”
Laura looked confused. “Violet Eyes didn’t tell me that.”
“Violet Eyes!” The words exploded from Jake and Will at the same time.
“It’s the name the Comanches gave me,” Sam remarked apprehensively. She looked helplessly at Colt, hoping he wouldn’t mention her Indian ancestry until she had time to prepare Will.
Colt correctly interpreted the plea in Sam’s eyes and decided it would serve no purpose to tell Will his sister was born of a different mother, an Indian one at that. It was best left to Sam to choose an appropriate time to tell him. Laura sensed Sam’s reluctance to reveal her Indian heritage at this time and also remained silent.
“Those dirty savages didn’t hurt you, did they, Sam?” Will asked anxiously.
Sam saw Laura stiffen and decided to have a talk with her brother as soon as possible. It wouldn’t do to have him offend Laura with his disparaging remarks.
“Do I look harmed? Thanks to Laura, I was well treated. She was adopted by Chief Black Bear and lived all these years as his daughter.”
“Knowin’ Injuns, it’s hard to believe they let you go without a fight,” Jake said thoughtfully. “Comanches aren’t usually so obligin’.”
“Colt did fight,” Sam revealed. “He fought with Brave Eagle and won.”
“Brave Eagle?” Jake questioned.
“My brother,” Laura returned.
Jake quirked an eyebrow in Colt’s direction, noting the pained expression distorting his features.
“Laura’s adopted brother,” Colt corrected, holding his temper under rigid control. “The man Sam would have married if I hadn’t turned up when I did.”
“That must of been one helluva fight,” Jake remarked, whistling. For the first time he took a long, hard look at Laura. At first glance she gave the appearance of being thoroughly Indian, but closer observation revealed that she hadn’t one Indian feature. He could
see traces of gold amidst dark strands of braided hair and realized it must have been dyed black with walnut stain. Though her skin was darkly tanned, it lacked the red tint distinctive to the race. In fact, with her dark hair arranged in braids, Sam looked more Indian than Laura.
Beneath the doeskin dress Laura’s petite figure appeared distractingly feminine. Somewhere around twenty years old, Jake reckoned. He thought Colt’s sister lovely and wondered how she would look in a becoming dress with her hair combed out and restored to its own natural blond. He was astute enough to realize it wasn’t going to be easy for the girl to adjust to a world she had forgotten long ago. He sensed her confusion, her fear, her unwillingness to leave her Indian family, and his heart went out to her.
Reluctantly pulling his eyes away from Laura’s bowed head, Jake turned his attention to Sam. “It’s good to have you back, Sam. You gave us all a good scare.”
“I missed all of you,” Sam said, swallowing the lump forming in her throat.
“Is it true that Brave Eagle wanted you for his wife?”
“I … yes,” Sam admitted, flushing. “But as you can see, everything turned out just fine.”
“Take Laura inside, Sam,” Colt ordered, scowling. The look Jake bestowed on Sam was so filled with concern and caring that Colt felt a slow anger building inside him.
Slanting Colt a venomous glance, Sam took Laura by the hand. “Come on, Laura. I’ll show you the house. You can have Will’s room. He seems happy enough bunking with the ranch hands.”
Will readily agreed, and the three men watched silently as the women disappeared into the house. Then Jake dispatched Will on an errand and turned to Colt, his brows raised in question. “What really happened in that Indian village, boss? You were gone so long we talked about sendin’ out a search party.”
“My search took me north into Kiowa Territory. It seems the tribe that killed my parents and took Laura traded her to Black Bear, who then adopted her. Findin’ Sam and Laura together was somethin’ I never expected.”
“What about Sam and this Brave Eagle she was supposed to marry? Was she mistreated? She looks well enough.”
“Brave Eagle wanted Sam,” Colt said succinctly.
“Why do I get the feelin’ there’s more to it than that?”
“Because there is.” Colt’s face revealed an emotion Jake had never before seen in his friend. Then Colt proceeded to tell Jake everything that happened in Black Bear’s village. Jake’s eyes grew wide as secrets he would never have guessed at were revealed to him.
“Jesus! It’s hard to believe Sam is part Comanche. I … I don’t know what to say.” Then he turned thoughtful, sliding Colt a sly look. “So you two are married.”
“Married, hell!” Colt thundered. “I don’t hold with heathenish rites. Besides, you know how I feel about red savages.”
“Dammit, Colt, Sam is no savage! She’s a beautiful, intelligent woman. Her father is a white man. You have no cause to treat her so disrespectfully.”
“Are you sayin’ I should honor this forced Indian marriage? You and I know it’s not legal. So does Sam.”
“I’m not tryin’ to run your life, but we’ve been friends a long time. Somehow I got the idea you were fond of Sam.”
“I… was, Jake,” Colt admitted, wishing Jake would stop badgering him. How he treated Sam and what he intended to do about their stormy relationship was his business. For the time being he needed her for Laura’s sake—or so he tried to tell himself. Later, once his enlistment expired and he returned to the ranch, he’d decide what to do about Sam.
“I don’t mean to interfere, boss,” Jake admitted wryly, “but I won’t allow you to hurt Sam. Her mixed blood makes no difference to me. I don’t reckon it will to Will, either, when he finds out.”
“Sam is my concern, Jake,” Colt returned possessively. “Keep away from her and let me deal with her in my own way.”
Jake shot Colt a reproving glance before turning abruptly on his heel and stomping away.
Chapter Fourteen
It’s…very nice,” Laura stammered, her eyes wide as she surveyed her surroundings.
“It’s been my home for as long as I can remember,” Sam said wistfully. “I hope you’ll be happy here.”
“You’re not leaving?” Laura exclaimed, suddenly frightened. “Please, Violet Eyes, this is your home. You’re Steve’s wife. You belong here more than I do.”
“Colt has no intention of honoring a marriage legal only to Comanches. He hates what I am. He never wanted a wife. He wants me here only for your sake. But one day, Laura, Will and I have to leave. It’s inevitable. We no longer belong on the ranch.”
“I don’t understand my brother. Can’t he see how much you care for him? If you leave, so will I,” she declared staunchly.
Sam mulled over Laura’s words for several tense minutes. Laura was white and belonged with her brother, not the Comanches. All she needed was time to adjust to her surroundings and circumstances. Intuitively Sam realized that Laura depended on her for support and friendship, and she couldn’t leave her, not yet. One day she’d depart, but not until Laura was better able to cope with her new life. She owed Colt a great deal for rescuing her. One way of repaying him was to remain at the ranch until Laura grew accustomed to the changes in her life.
“I’ll stick around a while,” Sam allowed grudgingly. “Until you no longer need me.”
“I’ll always need you, Violet Eyes. You’re my friend.”
Tears moistened Sam’s eyes. “And you’re my friend, Laura. But I reckon you should call me Sam. Now come along, I’ll show you your room.”
It was already dark when Colt entered the house. He was surprised to find Laura standing by the window staring forlornly into the blackness. She looked lonely, bereft, and completely lost.
“Where’s Sam?”
“In bed,” Laura replied. “It’s been a long day and these past weeks have been difficult for her.”
“Why aren’t you in bed?”
“I … I want to talk to you. We really haven’t had much of a chance, you know.”
Immediately Colt’s face softened, the lines around his mouth curving into a tender smile. His little sister was all the family he had left in the world and the one person worthy of his unqualified love. If she was finally willing to open up to him, he was ready to listen. He settled an arm around her shoulders and led her to a chair, hunkering down beside her.
“What is it, honey? What do you want to tell me?”
“Is it all right to call you Colt? Somehow Steve no longer seems appropriate. You aren’t the Steve I knew long ago.”
Colt nodded. He would have agreed to anything to preserve their tentative new beginning. “Sure, honey, call me whatever you’re comfortable with. I’m here to listen.”
Still somewhat in awe of the tall, powerful man Colt had become, Laura said, “I want to talk about Violet—I mean, Sam.”
Colt stiffened. “What about Sam?” Sam was the last person in the world he wanted to discuss. Especially with Laura.
“She’s your wife, why do you treat her so badly? Brave Eagle loved her. My brother would have—”
“I’m your brother!” Colt barked, trying to control his temper. “You’re smart enough to know that Indian customs mean nothin’ to white men.”
“What will become of Sam? You’ve already taken her land.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“She told me some things but not everything. I don’t want her to leave, Colt. She will if you continue to act in such a disgraceful manner toward her. Must your hatred for Indians blind you to your own feelings?”
“I know my own mind, honey. The same blood flows through Sam’s veins as the savages that killed our parents. One day, after Black Bear’s influence is gone and your life is back to normal, you’ll come to understand how I feel.”
Laura shook her head in vigorous denial. “No, Colt, you’re wrong, about many things. Sam and her brother will leave once you
’re gone. You can’t keep her here against her will.”
“Did Sam tell you she meant to leave?” Colt demanded.
“She said she’d leave when I no longer needed her. She’s your wife, Colt, can’t you stop her?”
Intuitively Colt realized his threat to turn Sam and Will over to the law no longer served as a valid reason to keep her under his thumb. He had procrastinated, threatened, and cajoled too many times in the past for Sam to take him seriously now. Obviously, if he meant to put her in jail he would have done so long ago. And Sam was smart enough to realize it.
“Sam’s not goin’ anywhere,” he said with a determination that secretly pleased Laura. “She belongs here. This is her home.”
He’d do anything within reason to keep Sam, Colt realized, startled by the intensity of his feelings. If Sam left he’d lose Laura, and he couldn’t bear that. Not when he’d just found her. Ten years! Ten long, frustrating years he’d searched for his sister and he’d be damned if he’d have her rushing back to her adopted family at the first opportunity. Colt fully intended to make his home on the Circle H once his enlistment expired, and if Sam was the key to keeping his sister happy, then it was imperative Sam remain. He tried and failed to make himself believe that was the only reason he needed Sam.
Laura smiled an amused smile. “Do you realize what you just said?”
Colt nodded slowly, suddenly realizing he had just admitted he wanted to keep Sam with him forever. “Go to bed, honey, it’s late. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I … could I ask a favor?”
“Anythin’.” Colt grinned, elated at the strides they’d made tonight. At least they were talking like kin instead of strangers.
“I want to sleep outside tonight. Under the stars. This is all so strange—the house, the bed. Give me time, brother. With Sam here to guide me I’m sure I’ll adjust in time.”
Brother! Laura called him brother. Did she know how badly it had hurt to have her constantly refer to Brave Eagle as brother? Perhaps things weren’t as hopeless as he previously thought. But one thing “became increasingly evident. Laura’s willingness to adjust as well as her happiness depended on Sam. He let that thought roll around in his head before replying.
