he looked at you that night at dinner." Kari shuddered, sharing Jordan's sentiments. "I swear it even gave me the creeps to think of you sharing his bed."
"Luckily I don't have to worry about that. Even if Mr. Johnson and your father did find us, they certainly wouldn't have anything to do with us now."
Kari laughed. "Can you imagine Patricia? Once she heard we'd lived among the savages she'd faint. She would make up some grand story to tell all her friends, so that no one would know we had been taken captive by the Indians. Or perhaps she'd use it to her advantage by making sure we never set foot in her house again."
Jordan knew Kari was right. It hadn't taken her long to come to the conclusion that her step-aunt hated her from the moment they first met. She had no doubts that Patricia had been the one to plant the idea of marriage to Marvin in her uncle's head, and in time she would have seen Kari married off as well. Probably to a man who lived an ocean away. Patricia obviously didn't want any reminders of the life Frederick had before she and the twins came along.
"Do you think that someone is searching for us now?"
Jordan could hear the anxiety in her voice. Ironic that they should fear their only family more than the Indian that held them captive. "Knowing your father, I would have to say yes."
Kari's sigh filled the teepee. "I'll never go back...no matter what."
Chapter 10
SHANE WOKE to a pair of dark brown eyes staring upside down at him. He wasn't sure who was more startled, he or the child who went running from him as though he'd seen a bear.
Sitting up on his elbows, he was surprised he'd slept past sunrise. Actually, it was the latest he'd risen in weeks.
The village was alive with activity. Men, women, and children were filing out of teepees to start the day. His gaze moved to the one Rebecca shared with Jordan, her cousin, and the half-breed. He wondered not for the first time what the relationship was between them. Especially since some tribes were well known for marrying more than one woman. The blonde was adamant about not having "relations" with the Indian, but how could they all be living under the same roof and have nothing happen? If that was the case, then Shane had to give the man credit for his willpower. The women were attractive, particularly the blonde who'd confronted him yesterday.
Shane glanced over where several men were gathered, the half-breed among them. His appearance was striking. Tall, lean and strong, he didn't look the type to back down from a fight. It didn't surprise Shane that the man had gone into a camp full of his enemies and come out rescuing woman and child right under their noses.
As though sensing his perusal, the half-breed looked at him, his gunmetal eyes cold. Shane nodded in greeting. The man nodded in return before turning his attention back to the conversation.
Shane rolled up his bedroll and blankets then stuffed them in his saddlebag hoping Rebecca would wake soon. He was anxious to get home. Joining others at the fire, he ignored them as they did him. He had too much time on his hands, and as usual his thoughts turned to Lily, his wife. A petite woman, Lily had shared his excitement of ranching, and had a head full of dreams just like himself. Side by side they built their farm in the Wyoming countryside. A legacy they would pass onto their son.
Married only two short years, she had died giving birth to their son, Tanner.
He smiled at the thought of his boy. Tanner, a handsome young man with his mother's quick smile and deep dimples, not to mention an ornery streak that ran the length of Wyoming. Little girls from throughout the countryside blushed whenever his son went to town with him, making Shane dread the years to come.
He wondered how Tanner was doing without him. Though he was only fourteen years old, his son had grown up surrounded by males.
"Luckily I don't have to worry about that. Even if Mr. Johnson and your father did find us, they certainly wouldn't have anything to do with us now."
Kari laughed. "Can you imagine Patricia? Once she heard we'd lived among the savages she'd faint. She would make up some grand story to tell all her friends, so that no one would know we had been taken captive by the Indians. Or perhaps she'd use it to her advantage by making sure we never set foot in her house again."
Jordan knew Kari was right. It hadn't taken her long to come to the conclusion that her step-aunt hated her from the moment they first met. She had no doubts that Patricia had been the one to plant the idea of marriage to Marvin in her uncle's head, and in time she would have seen Kari married off as well. Probably to a man who lived an ocean away. Patricia obviously didn't want any reminders of the life Frederick had before she and the twins came along.
"Do you think that someone is searching for us now?"
Jordan could hear the anxiety in her voice. Ironic that they should fear their only family more than the Indian that held them captive. "Knowing your father, I would have to say yes."
Kari's sigh filled the teepee. "I'll never go back...no matter what."
Chapter 10
SHANE WOKE to a pair of dark brown eyes staring upside down at him. He wasn't sure who was more startled, he or the child who went running from him as though he'd seen a bear.
Sitting up on his elbows, he was surprised he'd slept past sunrise. Actually, it was the latest he'd risen in weeks.
The village was alive with activity. Men, women, and children were filing out of teepees to start the day. His gaze moved to the one Rebecca shared with Jordan, her cousin, and the half-breed. He wondered not for the first time what the relationship was between them. Especially since some tribes were well known for marrying more than one woman. The blonde was adamant about not having "relations" with the Indian, but how could they all be living under the same roof and have nothing happen? If that was the case, then Shane had to give the man credit for his willpower. The women were attractive, particularly the blonde who'd confronted him yesterday.
Shane glanced over where several men were gathered, the half-breed among them. His appearance was striking. Tall, lean and strong, he didn't look the type to back down from a fight. It didn't surprise Shane that the man had gone into a camp full of his enemies and come out rescuing woman and child right under their noses.
As though sensing his perusal, the half-breed looked at him, his gunmetal eyes cold. Shane nodded in greeting. The man nodded in return before turning his attention back to the conversation.
Shane rolled up his bedroll and blankets then stuffed them in his saddlebag hoping Rebecca would wake soon. He was anxious to get home. Joining others at the fire, he ignored them as they did him. He had too much time on his hands, and as usual his thoughts turned to Lily, his wife. A petite woman, Lily had shared his excitement of ranching, and had a head full of dreams just like himself. Side by side they built their farm in the Wyoming countryside. A legacy they would pass onto their son.
Married only two short years, she had died giving birth to their son, Tanner.
He smiled at the thought of his boy. Tanner, a handsome young man with his mother's quick smile and deep dimples, not to mention an ornery streak that ran the length of Wyoming. Little girls from throughout the countryside blushed whenever his son went to town with him, making Shane dread the years to come.
He wondered how Tanner was doing without him. Though he was only fourteen years old, his son had grown up surrounded by males.
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