his breath and stared at the exquisite figure coming toward him.
Unlike the shapeless doeskins he was used to seeing Star wear, the bodice of her new dress hugged her curves, revealing the gentle swell of her breasts and the narrowness of her waist. He knew just by looking, he’d be able to span it with his hands.
Before, she’d looked young and fragile, but now she looked as if the slightest breeze could sweep her away. All his protective instincts rose, as well as a few others of less commendable nature.
With a start, he reminded himself that she was coming with him to help him with Renny. He’d promised her a safe haven. She was off-limits. But the attraction he’d felt before again sprung to life, leaving him no doubt as to what his body desired.
She stopped before him, and the sudden appearance of a mischievous twinkle in her eyes left him reeling. Was she enjoying his sense of shock?
“Will this do?” Star spun around. Nervous but doing everything she could to hide it, she released her breath, relieved. She’d already endured a goodly amount of good-natured teasing from her brother and sister, though her parents had assured her that she looked beautiful. Surprisingly, she felt beautiful. She felt different, stronger, in control. But her racing heart still sought this man’s opinion.
Grady cleared his throat. “You are truly a sight to behold, Mrs. Cartier.” He took her hand in his, bent his head and lightly kissed the backs of her fingers.
Star looked confused for a moment, then grinned sheepishly. “I’m not used to being called by my new name,” she said shyly. Or having her fingers kissed. The strange custom sent a warm glow through her hand and up her arm. She liked that manner of greeting.
Grady released her fingers. “If you are ready, we mustn’t keep the good captain waiting.”
Star turned to her parents, sister and brother. They hugged, cried and said their goodbyes one last time. Then she and Emma embraced.
“I shall miss you, my sister. I’ll take good care of Running Elk.”
Star smiled sadly. “I know you will. I miss him already.”
Her sister-in-law sobered. “I hope you will find what you seek.” Emma wiped the tears from her face. “Watch over Renny and keep her out of mischief.”
That released some of the tension, for both knew the task would be nearly impossible. Star laughed. “I will return in time for the birth of your babe.” A sudden buzzing filled her head as an image of Emma nursing a baby flitted across her mind. An instant later it was gone. It confused and bothered her. How could she see the births of future generations from her brothers and sisters so clearly, while other visions were so vague and unsettling? Once again, she railed against the unfairness of her gift.
But at least she knew her brother’s wife would deliver a healthy child. “You will make a good mother, my sister,” she said. “I shall miss you.”
Emma stepped back as Striking Thunder gathered Star in one last embrace. “Come back to us, my sister.”
Attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere, she sniffed back her tears and forced a brave smile to her lips. “I’ll be back for the birth of your… child. ” She deliberately paused, and as she’d known would happen, Striking Thunder’s brows rose.
“Wait! Before you leave, tell us—what is it, a boy or a girl?”
Star laughed and winked at Emma, then accepted Grady’s arm. “I would not dream of spoiling your surprise, brother.”
Striking Thunder spluttered, but Star took Grady’s hand and got into the small wooden boat waiting on the riverbank. A short while later, Star had left all she knew and loved behind for dreams of a new beginning.
Chapter Six
Star entered her appointed cabin on the second deck and felt as though she’d stepped into another world. The small, sparsely furnished room held two beds and a small table with two chairs. Plush red carpeting covered the floor, incredibly detailed flowers
Unlike the shapeless doeskins he was used to seeing Star wear, the bodice of her new dress hugged her curves, revealing the gentle swell of her breasts and the narrowness of her waist. He knew just by looking, he’d be able to span it with his hands.
Before, she’d looked young and fragile, but now she looked as if the slightest breeze could sweep her away. All his protective instincts rose, as well as a few others of less commendable nature.
With a start, he reminded himself that she was coming with him to help him with Renny. He’d promised her a safe haven. She was off-limits. But the attraction he’d felt before again sprung to life, leaving him no doubt as to what his body desired.
She stopped before him, and the sudden appearance of a mischievous twinkle in her eyes left him reeling. Was she enjoying his sense of shock?
“Will this do?” Star spun around. Nervous but doing everything she could to hide it, she released her breath, relieved. She’d already endured a goodly amount of good-natured teasing from her brother and sister, though her parents had assured her that she looked beautiful. Surprisingly, she felt beautiful. She felt different, stronger, in control. But her racing heart still sought this man’s opinion.
Grady cleared his throat. “You are truly a sight to behold, Mrs. Cartier.” He took her hand in his, bent his head and lightly kissed the backs of her fingers.
Star looked confused for a moment, then grinned sheepishly. “I’m not used to being called by my new name,” she said shyly. Or having her fingers kissed. The strange custom sent a warm glow through her hand and up her arm. She liked that manner of greeting.
Grady released her fingers. “If you are ready, we mustn’t keep the good captain waiting.”
Star turned to her parents, sister and brother. They hugged, cried and said their goodbyes one last time. Then she and Emma embraced.
“I shall miss you, my sister. I’ll take good care of Running Elk.”
Star smiled sadly. “I know you will. I miss him already.”
Her sister-in-law sobered. “I hope you will find what you seek.” Emma wiped the tears from her face. “Watch over Renny and keep her out of mischief.”
That released some of the tension, for both knew the task would be nearly impossible. Star laughed. “I will return in time for the birth of your babe.” A sudden buzzing filled her head as an image of Emma nursing a baby flitted across her mind. An instant later it was gone. It confused and bothered her. How could she see the births of future generations from her brothers and sisters so clearly, while other visions were so vague and unsettling? Once again, she railed against the unfairness of her gift.
But at least she knew her brother’s wife would deliver a healthy child. “You will make a good mother, my sister,” she said. “I shall miss you.”
Emma stepped back as Striking Thunder gathered Star in one last embrace. “Come back to us, my sister.”
Attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere, she sniffed back her tears and forced a brave smile to her lips. “I’ll be back for the birth of your… child. ” She deliberately paused, and as she’d known would happen, Striking Thunder’s brows rose.
“Wait! Before you leave, tell us—what is it, a boy or a girl?”
Star laughed and winked at Emma, then accepted Grady’s arm. “I would not dream of spoiling your surprise, brother.”
Striking Thunder spluttered, but Star took Grady’s hand and got into the small wooden boat waiting on the riverbank. A short while later, Star had left all she knew and loved behind for dreams of a new beginning.
Chapter Six
Star entered her appointed cabin on the second deck and felt as though she’d stepped into another world. The small, sparsely furnished room held two beds and a small table with two chairs. Plush red carpeting covered the floor, incredibly detailed flowers
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