Speak to the Wind (26 page)

He lifted her off the floor and swung her around, kissing her with such fierceness that she muffled a tiny cry against his lips. "Oh, I've missed you, Maria. Now more than ever."

"Me too," she mumbled between kisses and laughter.

Finally he set her down, although he still held her in his arms. "I preferred the period of the media blitz. At least I
got to see you more often."

She smiled with contentment. "And I was beginning to like being domestic when th
ere was someone around to appre
ciate
my cooking
once in a while.
Or to fix a fabulous breakfast for me.
"

"I appreciate everything
you do. And you
, Maria
. You're beauti
ful."

"
Joe,
you're so lucky, gett
ing to stay up here in the moun
tains. They're so pretty this time of year."

"Did you notice the new growth in the burned areas?"

She nodded. "I'm surprised to see it recovering so soon."

"We've had crews working to clean up the debris to make it easier for Mother Nature to do her thing." He bent to kiss her again, and what was intended to be affectionate and brief lingered and grew passionate. Joe was reminded that she turned him on more than any woman ever had. One kiss led to another... and another. Eventually they gravitated to her bedroom, to her quilt-covered bed.

"I want us to make love here, Joe. We haven't officially christened this place."

Joe remembered his unpleasant mission and tried halfheartedly to object. "Maria, we need to talk."

"Later," she whispered w
ith a secretive smile. Unbutton
ing his shirt, she began kissing his chest and a line down his taut belly while she fumbled with his belt buckle. Frustrated when the thing wouldn't budge easily, she shoved his hands to his belt. "You get that. I
’
ll take care of me." And she began peeling off her clothes.

"D
id
you hear me
?
We need -
"

“To t
alk later," she
finishe
d. "
First, make love.
Do you know how many times I've thought of making love to you up here in this cabin, in this bed? Come on."

"I can't stay long."

"We'll make it quick."
She giggled and grabbed for him.

Joe
felt his will weakening as she stripped naked and turned back the quilt. She was beaut
iful and her urging was too per
suasive. He'd tried
. H
e'd tell her later. Right now he couldn't resist
her offering
.

Her pale, silky body was
waiting for him, writhing entic
ingly on the bed. She wanted him and it was exciting and arousing to have her clutching and caressing, urging with her hands as well as her daring kisses. She fulfilled his every dream in a woman and only a fool would stop right now to talk, especially with what he had to say. So he relinquished his will and allowed his male prowess to take over.

She was luxurious, sof
t and warm. She met him with an
ticipation and eagerness, and he found her wildly sexy and exciting. As she explored e
very part of his body with curi
ous, roving hands, he gr
oaned with the unsurpassed plea
sure. Then he returned the bliss, caressing and stroking each curvy, feminine inch of he
r. Finally, as their bodies com
bined, sizzling everywhere they touched, he could bear the sweet agony no longer.

She moved sensuously beneath him, guiding him surely into her lush warmth. He rocked with nature's rhythm, hard, fast, hot. And she moved with him. Her soft cry of ecstasy was muffled against his mouth, and he felt her climactic shudder join his.

The room was
pitch-black when they awoke. Somehow, sometime, they had curled up in each other's arms and slept. It was truly like heaven.

They showered together. Maria wore a smug smile. Joe was unusually quiet.

"You hungry
?
" Not bothering with underwear, she pulled her jeans over her slender hips and snapped them. Then she grabbed a sweater and slithered into it.

He watched her pert breasts disappear beneath the soft sweater. "A little."

"You're always hungry," she teased. "How about
a beer
?
And nachos.
"

"Okay." He reached for his jeans.
“
Then we can talk
, Maria
."

She gave him a curious glance. "Sure, Joe." Rather than pursue it now, she headed for the kitchen. He has something serious on his mind, she concluded. There were signs, like body language and troubled eyes. And he was unusually quiet. What could be wrong? "Would you make a fire while I
get this together
?" she asked when he joined her.

"Glad to."

Soon the place was redolent
with spicy
smells
, and the fire
place blazed merrily. Maria brought a tray into the living room bearing the
nachos and beer
. "Let's eat in here by the fire. It's cozier."

Joe ached inside as they settled before the fire. How could he do this right now? And yet he must.
He didn't know exactly where to start.

She took several
crunchy
bites of
a tortilla chip piled with cheese and jalapeno peppers. “Ummm, love these flavors.”

"Maria, I need to tell you some of our plans."

"Whose? Ours?"
She took a drink of beer.

"The tribe's."

"Oh." She scooped a chip and popped it into her mouth.

"It's really a good plan, Maria.
A necessary one. 
Josh and I have spent hours on it and so have many triba
l leaders. It's getting good re
sponse. It's going to be wonderful in many respects, not so great in others."

Maria leaned back against
a pillow on the sofa
. "How?
Is it a win-win
?
Or a win-lose?
"

He avoided a direct answer.
"You know we've been looking for workable solutions to
counter
McAndrew's proposal."
Joe
was no longer hungry and shoved his bowl aside.

"You came up with something compet
itive?" She squeezed his hand. “J
oe, I'm so proud of you. What is it?"

He stiffened slightly at her display of affection. Guilt was driving him crazy. "We're going to launch a building project ourselves. We'll use Apache workers as much as possible, then contract it out to othe
rs. But the whole thing will re
main in our control."

"What a great idea
!
" She beam
ed at him and noticed his still
strained expression. So what could possibly be wrong with th
is plan
?

"It won't be condos, though," he continued in a rush. "We're going to recommend a large, resort-type hotel, with the most modern conveniences and glamorous amenities. There'll be several restaurants with Indian, Mexican and Continental cuisines, various shops, including ski shops for rental and purchase. It'll be large enough to accommodate corporate conventions or conferences."

"Very smart," she said with a slow nod. "Good potential for the future."

"Think so?" His heart l
eaped with hope. Maybe she'd un
derstand, after all.

"Absolutely
, Joe
!"

"But the best part is the Apache Cultural Center and what it will offer my people. Actually, they can make of it what they want. And I'm pleased with the heritage room, which was my Aunt Minnie's idea. She's really excited about all this."

“I’ll
bet."

"We've already talked to a couple of Indian architects. It'll be designed in harmony with the land."

"Sounds fantastic, Joe."

"The location has been the biggest problem."

"Why? There are so many beautiful places up here."

In a spontaneous and guilt-ridden act he took her hand. "Well, we're not sure yet s
ince we haven't made the presen
tation to the full council. That won't be done until after the election." Why didn't he just say it?

"I hope you aren't thinkin
g of the high pines area. Remem
ber the eagles."

"No, we certainly wouldn't put it near the eagle
s
nests."

"What area has enough room for a complex of this size and magnitude?"

"We'll have to have good access and room for parking. Good roads and..." He felt like hell. "And for a resort like this, it would have to be scenic. That's what attracts the tourist."

She nodded and waited.

"Right now the most logical place appears to be right here, around High Meadow Lake."

There was a moment of dead silence as she digested what he was saying. A dry sti
ck in the fire popped, and some
where a coyote howled.

"Here? But how? You've got all these houses here."

He sought her eyes as he spoke. "I guess they'd have to be
vacated. Or
moved
.
"

She paused. "What?"

"I know. It won't be easy."
He found himself rushing to ex
plain. "And it's going to be very complicated. But I wanted you to know that this is one of the areas being seriou
sly
considered
for this project. And it seems to be the best because of its physical assets."

"What would you do with—" She gestured and left her hand midair.

"Well, our lawyer suggests terminating the leases and—"

"What
?
" Maria's voice was shrill, and she was on her feet now as she realized what he was saying. This was what he'd been trying to explain all
evening! No wonder he'd been un
usually quiet. "What do you mean, terminate our leases? Why, you can't do that!
We’ve had them for years.
"

"Yes, we can. The land is ours. We'd ju
st be tak
ing it back."

"But we homeowners have contracts!"

"There is a lease-terminating clause."

"But I thought—My dad always thought—"

"I know. Most people thought it would never end, that it was too good for both parties. The Indians thought so, too. But now, Maria, it isn't.
Times have changed. We have bet
ter things to do with the land." He stood to face her, wanting to take her in his arms, but not daring.

"How can you possibly say that?"

"Because it's true. Can't you understand? This complex is something that will help my people now and for many years to come."

"I don't understand how you could possibly think up something so absolutely
. . . cruel
!"

"Maria, it's the logical solution."

"Logical? Or heartless?" Tears pooled in her dark eyes as she gaped at him
, breathing hard
.

When he saw her reaction, he recoiled as if she'd hit him. "Depends on which view you have."

"Or which side of the lake you live on?"

"No," he explained patiently. "If the plan goes through and the leases are terminated, it won't matter if the occupants are Anglo or Indian. They'll all have to move."

She touched her head and felt slightly dizzy. Move? She couldn't believe her ears. Move from this place she loved? This place her dad built? Not without a fight! S
he narrowed her eyes at him. "I’ll
sue."

"Won't do much good."

"I have my rights."

"So do we. The land is ours. We've talked to our lawyers at great length. You'll still have your
cabin to do with as you see fit.
"

"I... I can't stand this.
Can’t think straight.
Get out." She took a shaky breath, trying to control her wildly raging emotions. "
Just g
et out, Joe. I don't see how you could possibly propose something like this. You kn
o
w how I fe
el
about the cabin."

"Yes."

"And you still had the
audacity
—"

"It was out of my hands."

“
It was your damned idea!"