Authors: Ginger Simpson
Destiny's Bride (39 page)
An instant feeling of relief washed over her. “I can’t wait, either. I hope he comes home soon.”
“Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to go get your lodge ready for your husband’s arrival,” Singing Sparrow suggested.
“Your son sleeps” Rain Woman spoke. “Leave him here with me.”
“But…” Cecile was reluctant to desert her son again.
“If you wake him, he may not go back to sleep so easily.” The old woman flashed a knowing grin.”
Cecile’s cheeks heated in the presence of three women who knew full well her intentions to bed her husband. “You’re right. I’ll leave Two Clouds here. Maybe I should prepare something for Lone Eagle to eat.”
“Don’t bother daughter. I’ll be happy to share for he most certainly will need his strength.” A trio of chuckles at Rain Woman’s statement followed Cecile out the door.
The warm orange glow of the setting sun matched the feeling in Cecile’s heart as she crossed the compound. She breathed in the familiar cooking smells while her mind filled with thoughts of Lone Eagle’s homecoming and the thrill of being held in his arms again.
The fading daylight inside the lodge made it hard to see. It appeared that nothing had changed, but when her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she saw things weren’t quite as neat as when she left.
While straightening the mess of covers Lone Eagle had left in a heap, Cecile held a blanket to her nose and inhaled his masculine scent. Picturing his muscular, naked form stretched out on the bed, her body tingled in anticipation. She forced herself to go outside to fetch logs from the woodpile. After she lit the fire, she finished smoothing the pallet she looked forward to rumpling.
She picked up the storage parfleches from the floor and hung them on the wall. She stacked the cooking vessels and folded the clothing Lone Eagle had strewn about. When she was done, she surveyed the fruits of her labor. The fire was burning brightly. Everything was neat and in its place, and best of all she was safe at home. Only Lone Eagle was missing from this perfect picture, and she prayed for his quick return.
Singing Sparrow appeared at the lodge door with a bowl of piping hot stew. “I’m not sure my son will be home tonight, but just in case, I brought this for your dinner. I am sure you are hungry.”
“Thank you. You are very kind. I hope he comes home tonight. I am ready and so is our lodge.”
“Both look beautiful.”
Cecile hugged her. “It is good to be home, my mother. I have no plans to ever leave again.”
Singing Sparrow appeared deeply touched. Cecile had never before referred to her in those terms. “We have missed you, my daughter,” Singing Sparrow said. “We are glad you have returned to us.”
She threw back the flap and excused herself. “Rain Woman’s stew smells so good, I think I will go back to my lodge and enjoy dinner with my husband. Goodnight, Green Eyes.”
Cecile’s hungry stomach demanded she savor some of the stew. While eating, she reflected on the warm welcome she had received from the tribe. What a contrast to her first trip to the village.
Her ears constantly strained to hear approaching horses, but she only heard the occasional hoot of an owl and the continuous melody of crickets. She’d prepared to do battle with the guilt of leaving her parents behind, but for some reason, she felt none.
She finished her stew and leaned back on a pile of robes, trying to stay awake. Her eyes wouldn’t cooperate. She had ridden all night and was exhausted. Still listening for sounds of Lone Eagle, she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Forty-eight
Cecile awoke to barking dogs and horse sounds in the compound. The morning sun was just beginning to show on the side of the tepee when she jumped to her feet, very awake. Throwing open the flap, she anxiously stepped out into the cool morning air. Her gaze swept the area for her husband.
Riding toward her, at the head of the hunting party, was her love. She thought him the most beautiful sight to behold, and waited to see if he noticed her.
He finally looked in the direction of his lodge, his gaze rested on Cecile. Without halting his horse, he dismounted, and in three giant steps, reached her side.
He gathered her in his arms. “Green Eyes, my Green Eyes.” When he stopped repeating her name, he held here at arm’s length and surveyed her from head to foot. “You’re not a vision or a dream, are you?”
“No, it’s really me.” Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she relished the moment. She started to speak again, but he silenced her by claiming her mouth with a searing kiss. Clinging to him, arms firmly around his neck, she returned his passion equally. With their lips still locked together, he swept her into his arms and into the privacy of their lodge.
He placed her on the bed and knelt next to her. “I never expected to see you again,” Lone Eagle said, his voice overcome with emotion. “Each day you were gone caused an emptiness to grow in my heart. I spent all my time trying to lose the hunger and pain I felt without you. Now you have returned to me, and I feel alive once again.”
His very words described exactly how she felt without him. Touched by his show of emotion, she rose and wrapped her arms around him and looked into his dark, tear-rimmed eyes. “Since the day I left here, I have been unhappy. I could not find love in my heart for any other man but you. I thought I could go back to the life I knew before and start over, but I was wrong, terribly wrong. When I saw my parents and tried to be the person I was before you came into my life, I failed. I realized the true meaning of the trip was to find out where my heart truly belongs. It is here with you, and with our son… and the child I carry.”
Lone Eagle inhaled deeply. “My child?”
“Yes, my husband. Yours, for real this time.”
He pulled her close and Cecile felt his desire for her build.
“Impending fatherhood appears to be very pleasing to you,” she said with a giggle, reaching to encourage his erection.
Laughing out loud and embracing each other, they collapsed onto the bed of robes.
“It’s time to make up for that we’ve lost.” Lone Eagle rolled her to her back and straddled her. “You are truly destined to be my bride.”
He gathered her close, and they shared a long lingering, kiss. She tasted salt from their co-mingled tears of happiness and knew without a doubt what he said was true.
The End
About The Author
Ginger lives in Tennessee with her husband, Kelly and both are retired…sort of. Ginger views writing as her second career and loves the voices in her head. As transplants from California, both have accepted that in the south, you get a side of gravy with everything you order in a restaurant, and humidity is far worse than dry heat. Preferring the slow Tennessee pace to the hustle and bustle of California, they’ve decided being close to their only grandson is a good enough reason to stay. When asked how long she plans to keep writing, Ginger will always say, “as long as the Good Lord allows me.”
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