the tree trunk. She pulled
the long length of her hair away from her neck and closed her
eyes.
The woman who spoke to him then was not
the same one who’d given such a weak reply only minutes earlier. If
anything, she was cool and composed. He could hear her striving for
logic now. “Seth, you know as well as I do y people’s rites of
passage have to be honored to help them survive in the next
world.”
Seth understood to what Comanche
tradition she referred. He’d learned much in the time he’d spent
with her and the People.
The heat was gathering as the day wore
on. Not so typical for early April, Seth thought. A stiff breeze
kicked up and rustled in the treetops. He waited patiently. Celia
opened her eyes and glanced up to where a mother bird feed her
babies. She smiled at the soft chirps they made. Seth leaned on an
elbow and stretched his long legs out as he watched her. Again, she
closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them looking directly
at him. Reaching out, Celia took his hand, giving his fingers a
gentle squeeze.
Seth felt the jolt of her touch and
glanced up. The contact stirred his senses. He was helpless to
contain the sensation she’d summoned. It was as if there was a
connection of sorts, a mental perception.
“ This is something only I
can do.” Celia’s jaw firmed. “I will help you with each
grave.”
“ You’ve been at since first
light. Why don’t you rest awhile?” Seth understood what her
response would be before he spoke the words.
The crease of her mouth spoke of
appreciation laced with stubbornness, a trait he knew she had in
abundance. “That won’t be necessary. I’m used to long hours in
surgery. There are no breaks from the work when you’re dealing with
a person’s life and even though they are dead to this world, we’re
still dealing with lives here.”
“ But we can handle this.”
Seth tried to reassure her. “I think I can even recite the prayer
of the dead from memory.” He sent her a rueful smile to lighten the
mood.
Her face relaxed and creased into a
discerning grin. But Seth could see he’d had no effect on her
decision at all. Her willful nature hadn’t changed with time. Seth
dropped his head before he shook it in a sign of resignation.
Arguing with this woman would bring little gain indeed. He watched
as she rose and made her way back to the graves. Admiring the view
as she left, Seth considered her independent stance. He’d been
trying to convince himself she needed him, but Seth began to
realize the very essence of the woman lay in the fact despite the
obstacles, despite all the heartache, Celia would survive – alone
if she had to. He went over again what she had told him the day
before. Her graduating from finishing school, her being a surgical
assistant in Charleston was all the result of determination and
grit. Oh, yes, the woman had a lot of grit.
There were times when despite himself
Seth found Celia infuriating. Then there were times like this
morning when he’d realize how marvelous she was. She was
exceptional. On a slow release of breath, Seth considered her
courage again. Nevertheless, even strong women needed
companionship, didn’t they? Perhaps a man to shoulder the burden or
lighten the mood? Glancing around, Seth thought about braving this
territory as a woman. Most women would’ve collapsed by now from the
sheer heat of the day, not to mention the gore of the death lying
all around them, but not Celia. Was the young, affectionate maiden,
he bedded so long ago, still inside the self-sufficient, fearless
woman who’d come back into his life?
What had her life been like back east?
It had to have been very different. With her looks, Seth knew she
should have had all manner of invitations. Had she accepted any of
them? Did she in fact have someone waiting for her return? What
kind of man would let a woman travel to the territory alone? A
stupid one, Seth surmised and threw down the grass he’d been
chewing on.
What would
the long length of her hair away from her neck and closed her
eyes.
The woman who spoke to him then was not
the same one who’d given such a weak reply only minutes earlier. If
anything, she was cool and composed. He could hear her striving for
logic now. “Seth, you know as well as I do y people’s rites of
passage have to be honored to help them survive in the next
world.”
Seth understood to what Comanche
tradition she referred. He’d learned much in the time he’d spent
with her and the People.
The heat was gathering as the day wore
on. Not so typical for early April, Seth thought. A stiff breeze
kicked up and rustled in the treetops. He waited patiently. Celia
opened her eyes and glanced up to where a mother bird feed her
babies. She smiled at the soft chirps they made. Seth leaned on an
elbow and stretched his long legs out as he watched her. Again, she
closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them looking directly
at him. Reaching out, Celia took his hand, giving his fingers a
gentle squeeze.
Seth felt the jolt of her touch and
glanced up. The contact stirred his senses. He was helpless to
contain the sensation she’d summoned. It was as if there was a
connection of sorts, a mental perception.
“ This is something only I
can do.” Celia’s jaw firmed. “I will help you with each
grave.”
“ You’ve been at since first
light. Why don’t you rest awhile?” Seth understood what her
response would be before he spoke the words.
The crease of her mouth spoke of
appreciation laced with stubbornness, a trait he knew she had in
abundance. “That won’t be necessary. I’m used to long hours in
surgery. There are no breaks from the work when you’re dealing with
a person’s life and even though they are dead to this world, we’re
still dealing with lives here.”
“ But we can handle this.”
Seth tried to reassure her. “I think I can even recite the prayer
of the dead from memory.” He sent her a rueful smile to lighten the
mood.
Her face relaxed and creased into a
discerning grin. But Seth could see he’d had no effect on her
decision at all. Her willful nature hadn’t changed with time. Seth
dropped his head before he shook it in a sign of resignation.
Arguing with this woman would bring little gain indeed. He watched
as she rose and made her way back to the graves. Admiring the view
as she left, Seth considered her independent stance. He’d been
trying to convince himself she needed him, but Seth began to
realize the very essence of the woman lay in the fact despite the
obstacles, despite all the heartache, Celia would survive – alone
if she had to. He went over again what she had told him the day
before. Her graduating from finishing school, her being a surgical
assistant in Charleston was all the result of determination and
grit. Oh, yes, the woman had a lot of grit.
There were times when despite himself
Seth found Celia infuriating. Then there were times like this
morning when he’d realize how marvelous she was. She was
exceptional. On a slow release of breath, Seth considered her
courage again. Nevertheless, even strong women needed
companionship, didn’t they? Perhaps a man to shoulder the burden or
lighten the mood? Glancing around, Seth thought about braving this
territory as a woman. Most women would’ve collapsed by now from the
sheer heat of the day, not to mention the gore of the death lying
all around them, but not Celia. Was the young, affectionate maiden,
he bedded so long ago, still inside the self-sufficient, fearless
woman who’d come back into his life?
What had her life been like back east?
It had to have been very different. With her looks, Seth knew she
should have had all manner of invitations. Had she accepted any of
them? Did she in fact have someone waiting for her return? What
kind of man would let a woman travel to the territory alone? A
stupid one, Seth surmised and threw down the grass he’d been
chewing on.
What would
Similar Books
