Wild Desire (7 page)

Perhaps she was better off not knowing. She feared that whatever Adam's association with Damon might be, they would not be in the best interests of the Navaho. She would never forget how coldly Runner and Damon had treated one another.

Perhaps it best to stay out of those situations. She had enough to worry about, herself, with her own problems at hand.

“Sis, even though you told me not to discuss Runner with you, I've got to ask,” Adam said, giving her a guarded look. “Is there a strong attraction between the two of you?”

“Adam, please,” Stephanie said, standing quickly. She went into her darkroom and lit a lamp. She stiffened when Adam came after her and held a satchel open, so that she could place plates inside it.

“Stephanie, since there is obviously already something going on between you and Runner, play up to him,” Adam said, his jaw tight as he watched for her reaction. “Get him on my side. I need Runner, Stephanie. If I'm to expect no trouble from the Navaho, I need Runner's alliance.”

Stephanie turned angry eyes to Adam. She placed her hands on her hips and spoke up into his face. “Now, you listen here, Adam,” she warned. “Just keep your suggestions to yourself. Especially those concerning Runner. You know I'm not the sort to play those types of games with men.”

“Aw, sis, this is different,” Adam said, setting the satchel of plates aside. “Come on. For me? For your brother? You know how important this project is to me. I want to have this town worse than anything else I've wanted in my entire life. With your help, it could happen much more easily and quickly.”

“I'll have no part in your schemes,” Stephanie said, brusquely brushing past him. She left the darkroom and stepped to a window. She looked at the shadowed mountains in the distance, wondering where Runner was and if he was also having trouble sleeping. She had felt the need and hunger in his kiss. She knew without a doubt that he was falling in love with her. She would not take any risks that might turn his feelings into loathing.

Adam placed his hands on her waist and turned her around to face him. “Stephanie, I've never asked for much from you,” he said thickly. “But this time, I've got to. You've got to do whatever you can to get Runner on my side. Do you hear? Anything.”

Stephanie's lips quavered as she stared up at her stepbrother. “You would even have me seduce him if it comes to that, Adam, to draw him into your schemes?” she said, her voice breaking. “You truly want me to do even that?”

“Well, yes, if you believe that is what it would take to achieve my goals,” Adam said. He jumped and gasped when Stephanie slapped him across the face.

“How could you, Adam?” Stephanie said. She glared up at him, her fists doubled at her sides. “Now listen well to what I have to say, for it is the last time I shall say it. If you see me with Runner, and should I be showing affection for him in
any
way, it will only be because I want to be with him because I have true feelings for him. I won't be with him because of a brother who is blinded by greed.”

Adam's eyes narrowed as he gingerly stroked his stinging cheek. “Dear, sweet sister,” he ground out between clenched teeth, “you are as blinded by greed as much as I. You have come a long way to make money by taking photographs, haven't you? You knew that the Indians would not want you here, yet you came anyway. Because of money, Stephanie. That's why you're here. Nothing else.”

Stephanie paled and took a step away from him. She was shaken by what he had just said, knowing that, in part, it was true.

“Touché, brother,” she said flatly, then walked away, her chin held high.

The money that she had expected to make
had
sounded good to her. But now, after meeting Runner . . . ?

Money was no longer the entire fascination of being in Arizona Territory. She had to find a way of balancing her love of photography with the love and passion of the handsome “White Indian.”

Money came last, now, in her list of priorities.

Chapter 9

Adam at her side, Stephanie stood on a sandstone ledge, gazing out onto a land fed by roistering small streams of delicious, cold water. The vast, empty sky was a cornflower blue directly above, which darkened gradually to a deep, rich turquoise before it finally met the distant mountain peaks.

The morning had been long, but the length of time had been scarcely noticed by Stephanie as she had so excitedly taken photographs. She had become enamored by everything about this lovely land. She could see why the Navaho did not want to lose their rights to the land. Wanting to be as one with the land could become an addiction. She felt the bond already, and she had only been there a very short time.

“Don't you think we'd better call it a day if you want to stop by the Navaho village?” Adam said, tipping his wide-brimmed hat back from his brow. He smiled and wiped a smudge of dirt from his sister's face. “Or do you think we should first take a bath in that stream?”

“No, no bath required.” Stephanie laughed, handing her camera to Adam. She folded up her tripod. “A hair brushing and a spray of perfume is all I need and I'll feel refreshed enough.”

She went to the pack mule that was being used to transport her equipment. “I'm anxious to get to the Navaho village,” she tossed over her shoulder. She cast a look at the canopy of blue above, then at the sun, which had drifted from its midpoint. “I'd like to get back to the train before dark,” she added.

“Whatever you say, sis,” Adam said. He took quick steps toward the pack mule. He secured the camera case in a saddlebag, then took the tripod and tied it to the side of the mule and covered it with a leather drop cloth.

He folded his arms across his chest and gave Stephanie a soft smile as she took a bottle of perfume from the saddlebag on the other side of the mule and gave her shirt a spray. He then watched as she brushed her hair in long strokes, making it glisten in the sunlight.

He was glad that he and Stephanie had made up their differences today, while traveling together. And it would be no problem keeping their relationship this pleasant. He had already said enough about Runner to her. She needed no more reminding about his old friend who was now Navaho in Adam's eyes, instead of white.

When she had suggested that they swing by the Navaho village, to meet Sage's family, Adam realized that she mainly wanted to go there to get a chance to see Runner again. It took no damn crystal ball to figure
that
out. Making herself smell especially good, and taking such effort with her hair, was proof of that.

Adam had quickly agreed to her suggestion. He would play up to the whole Navaho nation, if that became necessary, to sway opinion his way so that the town bearing his name could be built without interference. Somehow, he would soon have the whole damn Navaho tribe eating out of his hands.

“I'm ready to go now,” Stephanie said, mounting her horse.

Adam gave her a mock salute and swung himself into his own saddle. They turned their steeds in the direction of the Navaho village. Their bridles jangled. Their horses pranced in a light canter, heads high, obedient to the reins.

When silence fell between Stephanie and Adam, he was keenly aware of it and did not attempt talking to her. One glance told him that she was deep in thought, and he felt confident with whom her thoughts lay: Runner.

He looked at her carefully, as if for the first time. She wore a faded calico shirt tucked into her divided riding skirt. The dark riding skirt was snug about her lithe hips and swung above her ankles, which were covered by undecorated high-heeled riding boots. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled above her elbows and the neck was unbuttoned, the cleavage of her breasts just barely visible.

But she looked no less lovely than if she wore a low-swept, satin ball gown. It did not take fancy clothes to bring out her loveliness. It was all natural, from her pretty nose and rosy lips to her slim and shapely legs. He admired her as all men did, but without passion. Although no blood kin to him, she was his sister, in every way.

Should he have had a true sister, surely their bond could not have been as true as the bond felt between Stephanie and himself.

“Adam,” Stephanie said, suddenly looking over at him. “Please try and behave yourself at the Navaho village. Will you please watch what you say?”

Adam was taken aback. His contented feelings of only moments ago were as quickly shattered. “Sis, if you're going to monitor my every word while I am with the Navaho, I think it best that we return to the train instead of going to their village,” he said, his eyes cold as he glared at her. “Lord, Stephanie, sometimes I think you don't want my dreams to come true.”

“It's not that, Adam,” she said, her eyes wavering when she saw how quickly she had angered him. “I just wish there were other ways to make them happen.”

“Other than making friends with the Navaho?” he snapped back. “That's what I'm going to do today, Stephanie: make friends. Is that wrong?”

“Not if that was your only motive,” Stephanie said. She looked ahead and got her first glimpse of hogans a short distance away.

She cast Adam another quick glance. “For me, Adam?” she softly pleaded. “Please don't say or do anything we both might regret.”

Adam wiped a sweaty palm on his dark trousers. “I wouldn't ever purposely do anything to hurt you,” he said. “That's all I can promise you. I would think that would be enough.”

He scowled at her for a moment longer, then jerked around and stared ahead, silent. He wished now that he had said a flat no to her when she had begged to come with him to Arizona Territory. She could prove to be more of a nuisance than a companion. Yet if she had not been there, he felt that he would have already been at a deadlock with the Navaho.

Adam felt unnerved when they rode into the outskirts of the village, dogs yapping at their heels and people turning to watch. He ignored these people. He was looking straight ahead. His spine stiffened when he saw Sage and Runner step from one of the larger hogans of the village. A lovely woman came quickly to Sage's side, who Adam recognized as Leonida.

Her appearance gave him cause to relax somewhat. He could still feel the warmth of her smile those many years ago, and the sincere hugs that she had given him. Especially when the day came for him to leave the Navaho's stronghold, to return to life as he had known it before being taken captive by Sage and his warriors.

He looked over at Sage. Adam had forgiven him long ago for having taken captives from the stagecoach. While living among the Navaho that short time, with Sage as their leader, he admired the man and the reason behind his decision to take captives. Sage's life had been filled with many injustices.

Adam had to confess to himself that it made him a bit nervous to try and swindle Sage into more injustices, yet he would not, for the world, change what he had started, and would fight for it to the end.

Even if that fight was with Sage.

Tense from the audience of Navaho, Stephanie glued her hands to the reins and sat straight and unmoving in the saddle. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Navaho women sitting outside in the shade of their hogans. They had momentarily stopped carding and spinning their wool to stare at her and Adam.

Her gaze also took in the flocks of sheep and goats that were corraled behind each Navaho dwelling. A garden of corn and other vegetables was squared off on a small plot of ground a short distance from the corral. From her studies of the Navaho, before coming to Arizona Territory, she had learned that their four sacred plants were corn, squash, beans, and tobacco.

She shifted her gaze and saw that the doors of all of the hogans opened to the east side. She remembered reading that the Navaho constructed their dwellings in this fashion so that they could welcome the morning sun and receive good blessings. An old Navaho house-blessing hymn that she had read came to mind: “Beauty extends from the fireside of my hogan. Beauty radiates from it in every direction.”

Stephanie looked ahead. Her heart leapt and her knees grew weak with desire as her eyes met and held with Runner's, where he stood with his parents outside a large hogan.

Self-conscious, she turned her eyes away from him and looked over at Sage. She recoiled somewhat when she saw his sour expression. She knew then that she and Adam were not welcome.

Swallowing hard, she turned her gaze only a short ways, finding the tall and stately woman beside Sage smiling at her. Her eyes were warm, which proved that she indeed welcomed those who were coming today to pay a short visit.

Leonida
, Stephanie thought to herself.
That must be Leonida
.

Stephanie's gaze swept over Leonida. She was a beautiful woman of an imposing presence, her wealth of golden hair flowing across her shoulders. She wore a lovely velveteen skirt and blouse, and a lacy apron over the skirt. The apron proved that Leonida had not entirely let go of her white past just because she was married to Sage.

Stephanie looked slowly over at Runner again. She had hoped that by now he would have come to her to welcome her; instead he remained with his parents even after Stephanie and Adam drew rein close by, the pack mule behind them.

Leonida was the first to step forward. She went to Adam, and when he dismounted, she swept him quickly into her arms. “Adam,” she said, hugging him tightly. “I need no introductions. You have not changed all that much.”

He returned the hug, hope rising within him that
she
might be more willing to help him than anyone.

Leonida stepped away from him and held his hands. “Yes, there is some change,” she said, laughing softly. “You are no longer an adorable little boy. You are grown now, and very handsome.”

“Mature is more like it,” Adam said, chuckling.

“Come inside and tell me about yourself and your mother,” Leonida said, ignoring her husband's unpleasant glance. She looked over at Stephanie, then went to her. “You must be Adam's sister. Runner told me all about you.”

Stephanie blushed as she cast Runner a soft smile, then moved into Leonida's embrace. She found it comforting, especially now that she could tell that Adam had a fight on his hands as far as Sage was concerned. Sage had yet to smile, or make any effort to welcome her and Adam to his village.

Nor had Runner.

Yet it was in Runner's eyes how he felt. Stephanie knew that she would be welcome anywhere as long as he was there.

Leonida swung away from Stephanie. “Come inside and sit by the fire,” she said, lifting the hem of her skirt. “The air is cool today.”

She went to Sage and took his hand, their eyes meeting. When she smiled up at him, he was, as always, unable to resist her and went with her inside the hogan with everyone else.

Adam walked beside Stephanie. His heart did a strange sort of flip-flop when he discovered someone sitting beside the fireplace on a Navaho blanket, her sewing resting on her lap.

Adam smiled awkwardly when Pure Blossom turned her face up to him and gazed raptly at him. A magical connection linked them at first glance.

He swept his eyes over her in silent admiration. She was slight and fragile and ever so beautiful with wide, dark eyes. Her luxurious black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, the ends resting on the floor of the hogan.

She wore a blue velveteen blouse and a skirt of bright calico. A beautiful thick string of coral hung around her neck. Just scarcely exposed beneath the long hem of her skirt were moccasins adorned with silver buttons.

Stephanie smiled a thank you as Leonida took her arm and led her over to the fireplace, offering her a comfortable, cushioned hand-hewn chair. She eased into the chair and, as she looked around her, found the interior of the hogan hardly any different from the cabins of other settlers.

The log walls were mellow with flickering light from the great rock and clay fireplace. A stew pot hung over the coals on an iron arm in the fireplace. More food simmered on a huge, black cookstove. The aroma of cabbage and beans wafted through the air from the pots. A pot of coffee sat on the edge of the hearth.

Stephanie could see that at least two more rooms led from the main living quarters and surmised those were bedrooms. She had to wonder if one of those bedrooms belonged to Runner but doubted it. He seemed too independent to sleep under the same roof as his parents.

She smiled at Runner as he eased into a chair not that far from her. She melted when he returned her smile, even though somewhat guardedly.

Her gaze was quickly drawn to Sage.

“You have come without proper invitation to my hogan?” he said, breaking the strained silence as he sat down in a leather chair on the far side of the fireplace. Adam had sat on the same blanket on the floor with Pure Blossom.

“You know how badly I wanted to see Leonida,” Adam said. He accepted a cup of coffee Leonida handed to him. “And I was anxious to meet the rest of your family.” He looked over at Pure Blossom. “And this is your daughter?”

“Yes, this is Pure Blossom,” Leonida said, placing a hand on her daughter's thin shoulder. “Pure Blossom, you've heard me speak of Adam. Darling, this is he.”

Pure Blossom extended a slender hand to Adam. “
Yaa-eh-t-eeh
, hello and welcome. It is good to meet you,” she said, her voice so soft it sounded hardly more than a breath of wind.

Adam's hands tremored as he circled his fingers around hers. “It is nice to make your acquaintance, also,” he said.