Read Online Chieftain (Historical Romance) by Nan Ryan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nan Ryan
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, Western, Native American, 19th century, Oklahoma, Virginia, Bachelor, multicultural, No Rules, teacher, Forever Love, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, reservation, American West, Love Possibility, Frontier & Pioneer, Comanche Tribe, Treatment, Fort Sill, Indian Warrior
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the distinct feeling that Shanaco expected her to be afraid of him and to show it. Too bad. Not about to be cowed or frightened by anyone, Maggie stood right where she was, toe-to-toe with him, tipped back her head and looked squarely at Shanaco.
And found herself staring, transfixed, into a pair of gleaming silver-gray eyes unlike any she’d ever looked into. Shanaco stared back, his gaze intense and unblinking, long dark lashes lowered slightly, a muscle working in his coppery jaw. Maggie felt her stomach flutter with an unfamiliar sensation.
She againpointed to the open door. Unsmiling, Shanaco nodded, stepped back, turned and walked out. Maggie frowned after him, and a chill of apprehension skipped up her spine. She raised her arms and hugged herself defensively.
Then her lips fell open in surprise when the handsome, long-legged chieftain overtook the limping Bright Feather, scooped him up off the ground and swung the laughing child up atop his broad shoulders.
Nine
S hanacocarried the laughing Bright Feather across the parade ground.
Maggie couldn’t keep from smiling. The pair disappeared around the corner of a barracks and Maggie turned away.
Humming now, she erased the blackboard, collected the chalk, gathered up the childrens’ books, stacked them neatly in a bookcase and went outside.
Pistol jumped up and barked excitedly. He raced ahead when Maggie set out for the general mercantile store. The weekly stage, due at straight up noon today, carried passengers and delivered the mail.
Maggie looked forward to letters from home. Her mother and father wrote regularly, her sisters occasionally. She treasured every missive. She would, on this particular Monday, collect her own mail and that of Katie Atwood’s.
Katie had suggested that while Maggie was picking up their mail, she would be fixing a nice lunch for the two of them. It sounded like a good bargain to Maggie.
Now as Maggie approached the mercantile store, she saw that the stage had already arrived. She was glad that it was on time for once. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. She was undeniably eager to tell Katie about the misbehaving Lieutenant Wilde and Lois Harkins.
The mercantilestore was crowded. Everyone always turned out, hoping for news from home. Maggie exchanged pleasantries with several officers’ wives, then smiled when she saw Lieutenant Finley making his way toward her.
The lieutenant greeted her warmly and they fell into easy conversation. They commented on the welcome change in the weather, discussed next week’s monthly ration day, and talked about whether the fort’s newest arrivals were adjusting well. Dave said he’d heard that Colonel Harkins and Major Courteen had scheduled a meeting with Double Jimmy and Chief Shanaco this afternoon. High time, if you asked him. Maggie fully agreed.
One of the things she most liked about Dave Finley was his consideration of others, his heartfelt compassion toward his fellow man. On more than one occasion, she had witnessed his kindness to the displaced Indians.
“Shanaco won’t be staying on the reservation,” the lieutenant mentioned casually. “The chief told Double Jimmy he’ll be gone by Thanksgiving. Soon as he sees to it that the tribe has settled in, he’ll disappear.”
Maggie nodded but made no comment. If the tales she’d heard about the hell-raising half-breed were true, his People might be just as well off without him.
Maggie wasdisappointed to find that there was no mail for her this week. Nor was there any for Katie. She shrugged slender shoulders, turned and motioned toward the door. Lieutenant Finley nodded and followed her outside.
“May I walk you home?” he asked.
“Thanks, Dave, but I’m not going home. I’m having lunch at Katie Atwood’s.”
“Well, I’m free later this afternoon, perhaps we could…”
“Busy. Katie and I are going out to the little house the army assigned to Shanaco. We’re hanging new curtains in the cottage, getting
And found herself staring, transfixed, into a pair of gleaming silver-gray eyes unlike any she’d ever looked into. Shanaco stared back, his gaze intense and unblinking, long dark lashes lowered slightly, a muscle working in his coppery jaw. Maggie felt her stomach flutter with an unfamiliar sensation.
She againpointed to the open door. Unsmiling, Shanaco nodded, stepped back, turned and walked out. Maggie frowned after him, and a chill of apprehension skipped up her spine. She raised her arms and hugged herself defensively.
Then her lips fell open in surprise when the handsome, long-legged chieftain overtook the limping Bright Feather, scooped him up off the ground and swung the laughing child up atop his broad shoulders.
Nine
S hanacocarried the laughing Bright Feather across the parade ground.
Maggie couldn’t keep from smiling. The pair disappeared around the corner of a barracks and Maggie turned away.
Humming now, she erased the blackboard, collected the chalk, gathered up the childrens’ books, stacked them neatly in a bookcase and went outside.
Pistol jumped up and barked excitedly. He raced ahead when Maggie set out for the general mercantile store. The weekly stage, due at straight up noon today, carried passengers and delivered the mail.
Maggie looked forward to letters from home. Her mother and father wrote regularly, her sisters occasionally. She treasured every missive. She would, on this particular Monday, collect her own mail and that of Katie Atwood’s.
Katie had suggested that while Maggie was picking up their mail, she would be fixing a nice lunch for the two of them. It sounded like a good bargain to Maggie.
Now as Maggie approached the mercantile store, she saw that the stage had already arrived. She was glad that it was on time for once. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. She was undeniably eager to tell Katie about the misbehaving Lieutenant Wilde and Lois Harkins.
The mercantilestore was crowded. Everyone always turned out, hoping for news from home. Maggie exchanged pleasantries with several officers’ wives, then smiled when she saw Lieutenant Finley making his way toward her.
The lieutenant greeted her warmly and they fell into easy conversation. They commented on the welcome change in the weather, discussed next week’s monthly ration day, and talked about whether the fort’s newest arrivals were adjusting well. Dave said he’d heard that Colonel Harkins and Major Courteen had scheduled a meeting with Double Jimmy and Chief Shanaco this afternoon. High time, if you asked him. Maggie fully agreed.
One of the things she most liked about Dave Finley was his consideration of others, his heartfelt compassion toward his fellow man. On more than one occasion, she had witnessed his kindness to the displaced Indians.
“Shanaco won’t be staying on the reservation,” the lieutenant mentioned casually. “The chief told Double Jimmy he’ll be gone by Thanksgiving. Soon as he sees to it that the tribe has settled in, he’ll disappear.”
Maggie nodded but made no comment. If the tales she’d heard about the hell-raising half-breed were true, his People might be just as well off without him.
Maggie wasdisappointed to find that there was no mail for her this week. Nor was there any for Katie. She shrugged slender shoulders, turned and motioned toward the door. Lieutenant Finley nodded and followed her outside.
“May I walk you home?” he asked.
“Thanks, Dave, but I’m not going home. I’m having lunch at Katie Atwood’s.”
“Well, I’m free later this afternoon, perhaps we could…”
“Busy. Katie and I are going out to the little house the army assigned to Shanaco. We’re hanging new curtains in the cottage, getting
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