Hunter rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He loved the feel of her slender length pressed against him. Running his hands into her hair, he held her face inches above his own so he could search her eyes. It pleased him to see compassion and pity shining there. She was as golden within as she was without. After all Red Buffalo had done to her, Hunter was surprised she could still feel sorry for him.
"I am Red Buffalo's good friend from childhood, his beloved cousin, as your Aye-mee is to you. He fears that you will steal this Comanche away from him, that my heart will turn against him and he will be left behind. An ugly man, alone forever, with no one. You understand? He cannot see past his hate."
"But I--" She splayed her fingers on his chest, shoving with the heels of her hands to lever herself away from him. Hunter tensed his arm at her waist to hold her. He wondered if she was aware of his hardness. Then he felt her heartbeat accelerate and had his answer. He bit back a tender smile. If only she knew how easily he could see her thoughts, like pebbles at the bottom of a clear pool. "Why would he think steal you away? I'm the one victimized, the one who left her family."
"This saddens your heart?"
"Of course!"
"You must not be sad. This Comanche will bring your family to you many times."
"Here? No, Hunter, they will never come here to see me."
"Then I will take you to their wooden walls. I want no sadness in your heart."
He felt some of the rigidity leave her and knew he had said the right words.
"I am Red Buffalo's good friend from childhood, his beloved cousin, as your Aye-mee is to you. He fears that you will steal this Comanche away from him, that my heart will turn against him and he will be left behind. An ugly man, alone forever, with no one. You understand? He cannot see past his hate."
"But I--" She splayed her fingers on his chest, shoving with the heels of her hands to lever herself away from him. Hunter tensed his arm at her waist to hold her. He wondered if she was aware of his hardness. Then he felt her heartbeat accelerate and had his answer. He bit back a tender smile. If only she knew how easily he could see her thoughts, like pebbles at the bottom of a clear pool. "Why would he think steal you away? I'm the one victimized, the one who left her family."
"This saddens your heart?"
"Of course!"
"You must not be sad. This Comanche will bring your family to you many times."
"Here? No, Hunter, they will never come here to see me."
"Then I will take you to their wooden walls. I want no sadness in your heart."
He felt some of the rigidity leave her and knew he had said the right words.
( Catherine Anderson )
[ Comanche Moon ]
www.QuoteSweet.com