Silken Savage by Catherine Hart Page A

she clings stubbornly to her goals.”
    “Like the spider’s web, she also wraps you gently in her grasp and holds you captive,” Panther answered absently, his eyes following Tanya as she continued on her way.
    “She does have great charm,” Black Kettle admitted reluctantly.
    “How did she do?” asked Winter Bear.
    “Very well,” Black Kettle told them. “I am beginning to think she may be a worthy mate for you, Panther. She has succeeded in grasping our beliefs and learning our tongue.”
    Here Black Kettle frowned thoughtfully at Panther. “In all the time she has been with us, I have rarely heardher speak English, and I have never heard either youor Winter Bear speak to her in her language, thoughyou both have the knowledge. Have you said nothing to her of your ability to do so? Panther, does'shenot know of your Spanish mother and your upbringing?”
    “No, Uncle. I have not told her. If she had known I could understand her words, she would not have felt the necessity of learning our tongue, and her progress would not have been as rapid.”
    “Will you tell her now?”
    “The time is not right. I want her to accept me as I appear to be; as a Cheyenne warrior. I do not want her to see me as an extension of her white world, for I shall never return to it. I have chosen to live among my father’s people, and Wildcat had to chose this life also, freely and totally, without reservation or doubt. I will tell her when I feel the time is right. Until then, I prefer she does not know.”
    “Are you having doubts about her?” Black Kettle questioned.
    “No,” Panther denied, “but if Wildcat knew I could pass easily into her white world, she might want me to take her to visit her parents. She still misses them, though she does not mention it, and she worries that they may think her dead or mistreated, especially now that she is with child.”
    “She is carrying your child?” Winter Bear exclaimed. “Then how can she carry on with the testing?”
    Black Kettle’s mouth set in firm lines. “I shall cancel the rest of the tests.”
    “No!” Panther’s voice rang out loud and clear. “She wants to go on with it. We have discussed it and agree that Wildcat is strong and fit, and no harm will come to the child. Neither of us wishes our child to endure the pain of being born a bastard.”
    Winter Bear turned a concerned look on Black Kettle. “Uncle, is there no other way?”
    Black Kettle sighed. “No, Winter Bear. As soon as I issued the ruling, the entire tribe learned of it. I cannot change it now.”
    “There is no need,” Panther assured them both. “Wildcat has trained hard and learned well. She is ready and capable of proving herself not only to our chief, but to all our people. It is important that they accept her without reproach. As a chief’s daughter and my wife, this will be possible. My pride and hers will accept nothing less.”
     
    Tanya had never been as nervous as she was this afternoon. Her future hinged on the result of all her intensive training. Panther, for once, was no help at all, for he was as edgy as she. By sheer will, she forced herself to forget about the child within her. To worry over its safety would make her less daring and more cautious, and could cost her a life with Panther. With one last, silent plea to both his God and hers, Tanya picked up her knife and her bow and arrows and headed for the edge of the camp.
    Targets had been set up in various stops for her use. Taking her place where Black Kettle indicated, Tanya demonstrated her skill at throwing her knife. Time after time, her weapon hit the center of the target.
    When Black Kettle was satisfied, Tanya then concentrated on doing the same with her bow and arrows. Again her aim was sure, so true that twice her arrows sliced through the shaft of a previously placed arrow to hit their mark.
    Next she demonstrated her prowess on horseback. Galloping Wheat about the field, she aimed her shots from horseback, doing