Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) by Peggy L Henderson

her to the valley without any forethought. What was she thinking? She had hoped to keep these last few days from her parents’ knowledge, and now she’d suggested he wait for their return.
    Her father would know what to do. He’d be able to find Chase’s companions, she was sure of it. But it would be at least another month before her parents returned from rendezvous. And they would not be pleased with her.
    I can’t just leave him here, though!
      His ability with the ax was definitely a surprise. Given time, would he learn the skills needed to survive in these mountains? Sarah chastised herself mentally. He doesn’t want to be here. He’d already said so many times. He wants to go home.
    Chase finished his meat, and threw the bones to the dog. With a loud moan he stretched out on his back on top of his blanket. He crossed his legs at the ankles, and clasped his hands behind his head, staring at the night sky.
    Sarah watched him. He was such a strong man. He had managed the strenuous journey yesterday without faltering. Today he had climbed into the Yellowstone canyon, then rescued her, and climbed back out. He was a man made for this environment. A warm feeling doused her. She sighed quietly, then her eyes followed his line of vision and gazed up at the stars.
    “I never tire of looking at the stars. It’s a beautiful night,” she said softly.
“Yeah, it sure is.”
    She peered over at him. He wasn’t looking at the stars. Their eyes met.
     Her heart must have skipped a beat, and her mouth went dry. She quickly averted her gaze. Trying to divert his attention, she looked at the sky again.
    “See those stars up there?” She pointed straight up.  “They form almost a square, and a tail coming off one side? It looks like a pot with a handle. My mother calls it the Big Dipper.”
    “Big Dipper.” Chase said simultaneously.
    Sarah’s eyes widened, and she stared at him. “How do you know this?” Several times already, Chase had used words and phrases that only her mother would use.
    “Isn’t it commonly called the Big Dipper? The Greeks called it Ursa Major, the big bear. But I don’t see a bear in those stars.” Chase propped himself up on his elbows.
    “I don’t know,” Sarah shook her head. “Perhaps you are from the same place my mother grew up. She also comes from a big city. She tells different stories than my Tukudeka relatives.”
    “You’re part Indian?” Chase looked her way, his eyebrows raised.
    Her own eyes narrowed. “Would it matter if I was?” She couldn’t disguise the anger in her tone. Was he one of those white men who despised the Indians?
    “No, I was just curious. If you call them your relatives, that implies you’re related.”
    “My father was raised by them as one of their own. We consider the Tukudeka our relatives.”
    “Okay.” He shrugged. There was no hint of disdain in his voice. Sarah relaxed. She added more wood to the fire.
    “So, what kind of stories did your mother tell you?” He rolled to his side, facing her, his head resting in his hand.
    Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the long winter nights when she and her brothers would sit in the cabin, a roaring fire blazing in the hearth. Her mother would entertain them with tales of a magical world.  Sarah would snuggle on her papa’s lap, rolled up in a blanket, and they all listened in fascination. Her mother had a wonderful imagination.
    She smiled at the memories, then cleared her throat. “Well, she would tell us of a magical place where the sky was filled with giant birds, and people rode inside the bellies of these birds, and flew all around the world in a day. And people could speak to each other, and even see each other, even if they were great distances apart. And men walked on the moon.”
    On the other side of the fire, Chase jumped up suddenly. He slid down on the ground on his knees in front of her so quickly, she pulled her knife in surprise. He gave it no notice, and