you here."
Sage ventured to the other side of the bed. "He must understand he'd be dead by now if we meant him harm."
"Give him time to adjust to his strange surroundings," Evrasina said. "He'll remember the events that brought him to our door."
"Water." The single word rang clear from the man's lips.
Finding it difficult to hold back her surprise, Sage gasped. "He speaks our language!"
The fear in his eyes evaporated.
Sage scurried into the kitchen, returning in short order with a tray, a glass of water and a bowl of hot broth. Dragging his body into a sitting position, he scooted back until his spine and head rested against the oak headboard.
Sage set the tray on his lap, handed him the spoon and with shaky fingers, he dipped it into the broth, brought it to his lips and swallowed.
Evrasina clasped her hands and smiled when he swallowed the last drop of broth. "He shall live; his hunger is a good sign."
Standing at the end of the bed, Peter Pa kept his voice low. "You have been on a dark journey, son." He pointed to Sage. "She found you by the stream west of our cabin. You were near death from loss of blood." He nodded toward Evrasina. "She is a great medicine woman and snatched you from the arms of death." His closed fist whipped through the air for drama.
The young man's brow creased and a thoughtful expression transformed his face. After a lengthy pause, he spoke. "I stopped at the stream to drink and saw the image of a man in the water. He raised a rifle. The first shot hit me here." He rubbed his wounded arm. "I tried to run, but the second shot knocked me off my feet."
"I found you lying next to the water," Sage said.
"Believing me dead, he left me for the animals. Darkness took me before I could crawl away." The strong potion took effect causing his eyelids to droop. "My horse." He slurred the words. "I must return to my People."
"Wait," Sage said. "Your name, what is your name?"
"Wanapaya," he whispered and slipped away again.
Chapter Six
An unshakeable bond grew between Sage and Wanapaya while he convalesced. For a week, the brave floundered in a drug-induced stupor. The first time he ventured onto the porch, his legs threatened to buckle and a bout of dizziness claimed him, reactions Sage assured him were normal after lying abed for seven days.
Grandmother deemed him fit enough to explore his surroundings the following week, his short jaunts accompanied by a walking stick bequeathed to him by Peter Pa. Sage admired his determination to return to his prior state of good health. Wanapaya walked the property throughout the day, bribed back onto the porch chair only when the aromatic scents of food beckoned him.
Sage entered her room on the third week and resisted the urge to touch him. His mouth slack in slumber, his dark lashes touching his high cheekbones caused her heart to skip a beat. A stab of grief tore through her. Soon he'd vanish from her midst as quickly as he'd appeared. With a prolonged sigh, she slid into the chair beside the bed, and closed her eyes, intent on waiting until he awakened.
Startled when someone ran a soft finger down her cheek, she opened her eyes and looked into his handsome face. "I hope you've come to drag me from this sickbed."
She loved his deep, rich voice, and his touch. "I have a surprise for you, but only if you're well enough to journey into the woods."
"Like the fox catching the scent of a hare, I am an impatient man. Tell me about this journey."
When his gaze fell across her like a caress, she melted. "I'll show you an enchanted glen that few on earth have seen."
Rising from the bed with a pained grimace, he bit off a curse and reached for his walking stick against the wall.
"Your leg still pains." Sage rose from the chair. "Perhaps we should wait."
He spun around, the smile bracketing his mouth breathtaking. "I will see this enchanted glen." He limped toward her and lifted her chin with a gentle finger. "Today."
Sunlight broke through the
Sage ventured to the other side of the bed. "He must understand he'd be dead by now if we meant him harm."
"Give him time to adjust to his strange surroundings," Evrasina said. "He'll remember the events that brought him to our door."
"Water." The single word rang clear from the man's lips.
Finding it difficult to hold back her surprise, Sage gasped. "He speaks our language!"
The fear in his eyes evaporated.
Sage scurried into the kitchen, returning in short order with a tray, a glass of water and a bowl of hot broth. Dragging his body into a sitting position, he scooted back until his spine and head rested against the oak headboard.
Sage set the tray on his lap, handed him the spoon and with shaky fingers, he dipped it into the broth, brought it to his lips and swallowed.
Evrasina clasped her hands and smiled when he swallowed the last drop of broth. "He shall live; his hunger is a good sign."
Standing at the end of the bed, Peter Pa kept his voice low. "You have been on a dark journey, son." He pointed to Sage. "She found you by the stream west of our cabin. You were near death from loss of blood." He nodded toward Evrasina. "She is a great medicine woman and snatched you from the arms of death." His closed fist whipped through the air for drama.
The young man's brow creased and a thoughtful expression transformed his face. After a lengthy pause, he spoke. "I stopped at the stream to drink and saw the image of a man in the water. He raised a rifle. The first shot hit me here." He rubbed his wounded arm. "I tried to run, but the second shot knocked me off my feet."
"I found you lying next to the water," Sage said.
"Believing me dead, he left me for the animals. Darkness took me before I could crawl away." The strong potion took effect causing his eyelids to droop. "My horse." He slurred the words. "I must return to my People."
"Wait," Sage said. "Your name, what is your name?"
"Wanapaya," he whispered and slipped away again.
Chapter Six
An unshakeable bond grew between Sage and Wanapaya while he convalesced. For a week, the brave floundered in a drug-induced stupor. The first time he ventured onto the porch, his legs threatened to buckle and a bout of dizziness claimed him, reactions Sage assured him were normal after lying abed for seven days.
Grandmother deemed him fit enough to explore his surroundings the following week, his short jaunts accompanied by a walking stick bequeathed to him by Peter Pa. Sage admired his determination to return to his prior state of good health. Wanapaya walked the property throughout the day, bribed back onto the porch chair only when the aromatic scents of food beckoned him.
Sage entered her room on the third week and resisted the urge to touch him. His mouth slack in slumber, his dark lashes touching his high cheekbones caused her heart to skip a beat. A stab of grief tore through her. Soon he'd vanish from her midst as quickly as he'd appeared. With a prolonged sigh, she slid into the chair beside the bed, and closed her eyes, intent on waiting until he awakened.
Startled when someone ran a soft finger down her cheek, she opened her eyes and looked into his handsome face. "I hope you've come to drag me from this sickbed."
She loved his deep, rich voice, and his touch. "I have a surprise for you, but only if you're well enough to journey into the woods."
"Like the fox catching the scent of a hare, I am an impatient man. Tell me about this journey."
When his gaze fell across her like a caress, she melted. "I'll show you an enchanted glen that few on earth have seen."
Rising from the bed with a pained grimace, he bit off a curse and reached for his walking stick against the wall.
"Your leg still pains." Sage rose from the chair. "Perhaps we should wait."
He spun around, the smile bracketing his mouth breathtaking. "I will see this enchanted glen." He limped toward her and lifted her chin with a gentle finger. "Today."
Sunlight broke through the
Similar Books
