this.” She stared at him for a moment before breaking off eye contact. “I wish she hadn’t.”
Wolf Runner did not know how much to tell her since Ivy Gatlin had not mentioned her visit to his ranch. “Your grandmother knew my mother in the past so she came to me and asked if I could help you.”
How like Gram to worry about her when she had been so sick. Cheyenne was still reeling with grief andshe could hardly follow Wolf Runner’s reasoning. “As you can see, I am packed to move out of this house since it belongs to Mr. Sullivan.”
“Do you have plans?”
“No.” She avoided his eyes. “Not yet.”
“Then I can help. How would you like to move to Mesa del Fuego?”
Gasping, Cheyenne stepped away from him, her eyes narrowed. “How dare you! I just had a similar offer, and I turned it down.”
Anger flashed in his all-seeing eyes.
“Miss Gatlin, do not mistake my intentions with those of the man who just left here. I have no interest in you whatsoever, other than to help you for your grandmother’s sake.”
Confused and embarrassed by her outburst, Cheyenne realized she had mistaken his intentions. “Thank you for helping me today. But as you see, I have much to do.”
“Where will you go?” he pressed.
She regarded him silently for a moment before she shook her head. Her gaze reflected caution, for she did not fully trust any man after today. “You need not be concerned.”
“Mrs. Gatlin asked me to take you to my village and place you under the care of my mother.” He turned away from her and gazed out the window. “That, or living in safety on Mesa del Fuego is all I can offer you.”
Her mouth flew open in shock. Hurt pride and shame battled inside Cheyenne. “I’m not going with you to your Indian village or your ranch. I can take care of myself,” she said in anger.
Wolf Runner stared down at her, wanting to walk away. She was ungrateful and obstinate, two traits hedid not admire in women. “You were not doing very well at it a moment ago.”
When he saw hurt pour into her eyes, he was sorry for his sharp words. She had just lost her grandmother and been accosted by a man—she did not need his criticism. For reasons he did not care to examine, he felt the need to offer this young woman words of comfort. “In times of great grief,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes, “it may seem that hope has deserted you, but with the passing of time, grief lessens.”
Cheyenne stood frozen in place for a long moment. Then she broke eye contact with him and turned away. “Good day.” She walked to the door and held it open. “Thank you for your concern.”
Wolf Runner was reluctant to leave. If it were not for her dark skin and the slant of her beautiful eyes, she would pass for a white woman and would not be as vulnerable as she was now. Her honey-colored eyes seemed to pull him into their depths, but he resisted.
“If you are certain—I will not make the offer again.” He expected to be relieved because she was releasing him from the obligation Ivy Gatlin had placed on his shoulders, but he still hesitated.
“Thank you again,” Cheyenne said stiffly, opening the door wider and looking at him pointedly.
Wolf Runner had good instincts, and at the moment he knew that this woman who stood so bravely before him was terrified. He could do nothing for her if she would not accept his help.
“I will leave you, if that is your wish.” He paused at the door. “I will be departing Santa Fe tomorrow. Should you need anything at all, I will instruct Cullen Worthington to help you. Do not hesitate to go to him; he is trustworthy and honorable.”
Cheyenne’s hand trembled as her grasp on thedoorknob tightened. “I will not need anything,” she said proudly.
Wolf Runner nodded. “Then good day to you, Miss Gatlin. And accept my sympathy on your grandmother’s passing.”
Watching him leave and smoothly mount his horse, Cheyenne wished she could call him back. But what would
Wolf Runner did not know how much to tell her since Ivy Gatlin had not mentioned her visit to his ranch. “Your grandmother knew my mother in the past so she came to me and asked if I could help you.”
How like Gram to worry about her when she had been so sick. Cheyenne was still reeling with grief andshe could hardly follow Wolf Runner’s reasoning. “As you can see, I am packed to move out of this house since it belongs to Mr. Sullivan.”
“Do you have plans?”
“No.” She avoided his eyes. “Not yet.”
“Then I can help. How would you like to move to Mesa del Fuego?”
Gasping, Cheyenne stepped away from him, her eyes narrowed. “How dare you! I just had a similar offer, and I turned it down.”
Anger flashed in his all-seeing eyes.
“Miss Gatlin, do not mistake my intentions with those of the man who just left here. I have no interest in you whatsoever, other than to help you for your grandmother’s sake.”
Confused and embarrassed by her outburst, Cheyenne realized she had mistaken his intentions. “Thank you for helping me today. But as you see, I have much to do.”
“Where will you go?” he pressed.
She regarded him silently for a moment before she shook her head. Her gaze reflected caution, for she did not fully trust any man after today. “You need not be concerned.”
“Mrs. Gatlin asked me to take you to my village and place you under the care of my mother.” He turned away from her and gazed out the window. “That, or living in safety on Mesa del Fuego is all I can offer you.”
Her mouth flew open in shock. Hurt pride and shame battled inside Cheyenne. “I’m not going with you to your Indian village or your ranch. I can take care of myself,” she said in anger.
Wolf Runner stared down at her, wanting to walk away. She was ungrateful and obstinate, two traits hedid not admire in women. “You were not doing very well at it a moment ago.”
When he saw hurt pour into her eyes, he was sorry for his sharp words. She had just lost her grandmother and been accosted by a man—she did not need his criticism. For reasons he did not care to examine, he felt the need to offer this young woman words of comfort. “In times of great grief,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes, “it may seem that hope has deserted you, but with the passing of time, grief lessens.”
Cheyenne stood frozen in place for a long moment. Then she broke eye contact with him and turned away. “Good day.” She walked to the door and held it open. “Thank you for your concern.”
Wolf Runner was reluctant to leave. If it were not for her dark skin and the slant of her beautiful eyes, she would pass for a white woman and would not be as vulnerable as she was now. Her honey-colored eyes seemed to pull him into their depths, but he resisted.
“If you are certain—I will not make the offer again.” He expected to be relieved because she was releasing him from the obligation Ivy Gatlin had placed on his shoulders, but he still hesitated.
“Thank you again,” Cheyenne said stiffly, opening the door wider and looking at him pointedly.
Wolf Runner had good instincts, and at the moment he knew that this woman who stood so bravely before him was terrified. He could do nothing for her if she would not accept his help.
“I will leave you, if that is your wish.” He paused at the door. “I will be departing Santa Fe tomorrow. Should you need anything at all, I will instruct Cullen Worthington to help you. Do not hesitate to go to him; he is trustworthy and honorable.”
Cheyenne’s hand trembled as her grasp on thedoorknob tightened. “I will not need anything,” she said proudly.
Wolf Runner nodded. “Then good day to you, Miss Gatlin. And accept my sympathy on your grandmother’s passing.”
Watching him leave and smoothly mount his horse, Cheyenne wished she could call him back. But what would
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