Read Online Bittersweet Ecstasy by Janelle Taylor - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Janelle Taylor
Ads: Link
disappearance last spring… if only there were clues to inspire hope or to lead them to her… Bright Arrow needed his lost love, and Tashina needed her mother’s guidance during this period in her life. Things were changing so rapidlythese days, and Shalee could not imagine what the new sun would bring.
During the evening meal in the tepee of Gray Eagle, Powchutu was introduced as his half brother Eagle’s Arm. The men talked while Shalee and Tashina served the meal they had prepared, the five men eating first as was the Indian custom. Gray Eagle told them, “On the new sun, we will feast my brother’s return and we will make plans to break winter camp. Stay, my friends, and share this happy time.”
Soul-of-Thunder and Tashina exchanged smiles at the thought of having more time together, but only Shalee noticed. She sighed happily, for she could think of no one more suited to her granddaughter than the son of Windrider, best friend to her son Bright Arrow. Their union would forge a bond between friends and allied tribes. She was glad her son understood about Powchutu and accepted him as part of their family. She knew the same would be true of Sun Cloud when he was enlightened.
The meal passed leisurely, and the men lit their pipes and slipped into genial conversation. When the talk shifted to news or concerns over the soldiers’ actions, Shalee innocently and slyly asked Tashina if she would fetch water, and if Soul-of-Thunder would go along to protect her in the darkness. The two rose quietly and left. She was not overly concerned with Sun Cloud’s absence, as Gray Eagle had explained his mission, and she knew her son always obeyed his father’s orders.
At the stream, Tashina filled the water skins. Moonlight danced off her dark brown hair which had an auburn cast in the sunlight and was always wildly disobedient when wet or when the air was filled with moisture before a rain. She turned to find Soul-of-Thunderwatching her.
Tashina straightened and returned his probing gaze. For a time, they seemed spellbound, as if content to do nothing more than look at each other, or more so as if that was all they could do. Her golden brown eyes softened, as did his darker brown ones. Lips parted, but neither spoke. A sensual heaviness seemed to surround them. It was as if each was waiting for the other to say or to do something.
Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting shadows upon their faces and bodies, creating an aura of sensuality and mystery. Sweet smells of wildflowers and heady pine filled the air around them. It suddenly seemed warm and peaceful near the stream. Their breathing heightened, and still they did nothing more than stare at each other, as if each was afraid that moving or speaking would break the romantic spell which encased them in a private world, or as if each was the only one caught up in the magic of this moment.
Soul-of-Thunder wanted to reach out and snatch Tashina into his arms, to cover her lips with kisses. He wondered if this was the time to make his manly desires known. They had been friends for so many years, but she was consumed by her father’s life these days. They had met when he was three and she was less than two, and they had shared many childhood adventures because their fathers were best friends. But since her mother had vanished last year, she had seemed to think of nothing and no one except her father and his pain. Perhaps he should give her more time to accept the loss of her mother, more time to give her hints of his feelings for her as a man. If only her father would find another mate and would release her from her sense of duty to him, he could approach her and reveal his love. They had had so little time together during the last year, and he wondered if she had missed him as he had missedher. So many braves and warriors from her tribe, and others, desired her, for Bright Arrow had told Windrider of the many offers he had received for her. Why, Soul-of-Thunder
During the evening meal in the tepee of Gray Eagle, Powchutu was introduced as his half brother Eagle’s Arm. The men talked while Shalee and Tashina served the meal they had prepared, the five men eating first as was the Indian custom. Gray Eagle told them, “On the new sun, we will feast my brother’s return and we will make plans to break winter camp. Stay, my friends, and share this happy time.”
Soul-of-Thunder and Tashina exchanged smiles at the thought of having more time together, but only Shalee noticed. She sighed happily, for she could think of no one more suited to her granddaughter than the son of Windrider, best friend to her son Bright Arrow. Their union would forge a bond between friends and allied tribes. She was glad her son understood about Powchutu and accepted him as part of their family. She knew the same would be true of Sun Cloud when he was enlightened.
The meal passed leisurely, and the men lit their pipes and slipped into genial conversation. When the talk shifted to news or concerns over the soldiers’ actions, Shalee innocently and slyly asked Tashina if she would fetch water, and if Soul-of-Thunder would go along to protect her in the darkness. The two rose quietly and left. She was not overly concerned with Sun Cloud’s absence, as Gray Eagle had explained his mission, and she knew her son always obeyed his father’s orders.
At the stream, Tashina filled the water skins. Moonlight danced off her dark brown hair which had an auburn cast in the sunlight and was always wildly disobedient when wet or when the air was filled with moisture before a rain. She turned to find Soul-of-Thunderwatching her.
Tashina straightened and returned his probing gaze. For a time, they seemed spellbound, as if content to do nothing more than look at each other, or more so as if that was all they could do. Her golden brown eyes softened, as did his darker brown ones. Lips parted, but neither spoke. A sensual heaviness seemed to surround them. It was as if each was waiting for the other to say or to do something.
Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting shadows upon their faces and bodies, creating an aura of sensuality and mystery. Sweet smells of wildflowers and heady pine filled the air around them. It suddenly seemed warm and peaceful near the stream. Their breathing heightened, and still they did nothing more than stare at each other, as if each was afraid that moving or speaking would break the romantic spell which encased them in a private world, or as if each was the only one caught up in the magic of this moment.
Soul-of-Thunder wanted to reach out and snatch Tashina into his arms, to cover her lips with kisses. He wondered if this was the time to make his manly desires known. They had been friends for so many years, but she was consumed by her father’s life these days. They had met when he was three and she was less than two, and they had shared many childhood adventures because their fathers were best friends. But since her mother had vanished last year, she had seemed to think of nothing and no one except her father and his pain. Perhaps he should give her more time to accept the loss of her mother, more time to give her hints of his feelings for her as a man. If only her father would find another mate and would release her from her sense of duty to him, he could approach her and reveal his love. They had had so little time together during the last year, and he wondered if she had missed him as he had missedher. So many braves and warriors from her tribe, and others, desired her, for Bright Arrow had told Windrider of the many offers he had received for her. Why, Soul-of-Thunder
Similar Books
