Read Online Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Native Americans, 19th century, Marriage, King, true love, queen, wife, Beloved, Indian, husband, American West, Lagonda Tribe, White People, Reuniting, disappeared, Continuation, Night & Day
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look to be too deep, and yet it is a great distance across and it is swift," she said knowing that most probably Palomas would want to build rafts. "I believe the horses could easily swim this river," she added hopefully.
"I hope it is as you say, my queen," Matio told her.
Mara dismounted and bent down to bathe her face and hands in the river. She then cupped her hands and drank until her thirst was quenched. Standing up she led her horse forward so he could drink.
Minet appeared at her side and handed her a piece of dried meat. "I have spread a robe under the shade tree for you to rest upon, my queen," the girl told her.
Mara waved the dried meat aside. She was not hungry. Lately the thought of food had made her feel nauseous, and she had begun to wonder if she might be expecting a baby, but had decided that her upset stomach came from the sameness of her diet. She thought how good a piece of deer meat that had been roasted over a campfire would taste. She would even settle for a rabbit, she thought wistfully.
Mara made her way to the robe and sat down wearily. Falon offered her a corncake, but Mara shook her head. "You look pale, my queen. Are you feeling well?" Falon asked in concern.
"It must be the heat, Falon. I will be fine once we reach the other side of the river."
The two girls sat down beside Mara and looked at her with concern written on their faces. Seeing this, Mara laughed.
"Please, I am fine. Do not concern yourselves and please do not say anything to Palomas. You know how he fusses. He would only insist we camp on this side of the river."
A shadow fell across Mara's face and she glanced up to see Palomas standing over her.
"What is it that they were not supposed to tell me, Mara?" he asked.
"Your hearing is too keen. Some things are not meant for your ears, Palomas."
"Am I to take that as a compliment?" he asked smiling slightly.
Mara's laughter bubbled out. "Of course. How else would I mean it?" she replied, giving him a mischievous grin and hoping he had not overheard that she was not feeling well. "Tell me, will we be able to cross without making rafts?"
Palomas lifted his head and stared at the river. His craggy face was in profile to Mara, and she felt love for this man who always stood in harm's way for her. He was as dear to her as her brother Jeffery. She knew he would not cross the river until he was sure there would be no danger to her.
"I have sent some of the warriors across the river to determine if we shall need a raft. There is something that is causing me some concern and I will want to wait and see what happens. I think we should camp on this side of the river."
"But why? There are still several hours of daylight left."
"Mara, look to the mountains. There are rain clouds hanging over them. If it has been raining in the mountains, there could be a heavy run-off that will swell the river, making it impossible to cross until the river recedes."
"I do not see—"
"Mara," he interrupted. "The river may look calm at the moment, but within moments it could become a raging torrent, with the run-off."
"If that is the case should we not cross now? I do not want to waste any more time than is necessary," Mara said.
"We shall see," he told her absentmindedly, and Mara knew from experience it would do no good to press him. Palomas would cross the river when and only when he thought it safe for her. It did not matter to him that she was queen. He always had the final decision concerning her safety.
Mara looked toward the mountains and could tell it was indeed raining hard. She stood up, knowing if they did not hurry, they would be caught on this side of the river, losing perhaps two or even three days before the swollen river would recede. She set her chin stubbornly. This time she would take the decision for crossing the river out of Palomas's hands. She walked purposefully toward her horse, took the reins from Matio and vaulted onto her horse's back.
"We cross the river now," she
"I hope it is as you say, my queen," Matio told her.
Mara dismounted and bent down to bathe her face and hands in the river. She then cupped her hands and drank until her thirst was quenched. Standing up she led her horse forward so he could drink.
Minet appeared at her side and handed her a piece of dried meat. "I have spread a robe under the shade tree for you to rest upon, my queen," the girl told her.
Mara waved the dried meat aside. She was not hungry. Lately the thought of food had made her feel nauseous, and she had begun to wonder if she might be expecting a baby, but had decided that her upset stomach came from the sameness of her diet. She thought how good a piece of deer meat that had been roasted over a campfire would taste. She would even settle for a rabbit, she thought wistfully.
Mara made her way to the robe and sat down wearily. Falon offered her a corncake, but Mara shook her head. "You look pale, my queen. Are you feeling well?" Falon asked in concern.
"It must be the heat, Falon. I will be fine once we reach the other side of the river."
The two girls sat down beside Mara and looked at her with concern written on their faces. Seeing this, Mara laughed.
"Please, I am fine. Do not concern yourselves and please do not say anything to Palomas. You know how he fusses. He would only insist we camp on this side of the river."
A shadow fell across Mara's face and she glanced up to see Palomas standing over her.
"What is it that they were not supposed to tell me, Mara?" he asked.
"Your hearing is too keen. Some things are not meant for your ears, Palomas."
"Am I to take that as a compliment?" he asked smiling slightly.
Mara's laughter bubbled out. "Of course. How else would I mean it?" she replied, giving him a mischievous grin and hoping he had not overheard that she was not feeling well. "Tell me, will we be able to cross without making rafts?"
Palomas lifted his head and stared at the river. His craggy face was in profile to Mara, and she felt love for this man who always stood in harm's way for her. He was as dear to her as her brother Jeffery. She knew he would not cross the river until he was sure there would be no danger to her.
"I have sent some of the warriors across the river to determine if we shall need a raft. There is something that is causing me some concern and I will want to wait and see what happens. I think we should camp on this side of the river."
"But why? There are still several hours of daylight left."
"Mara, look to the mountains. There are rain clouds hanging over them. If it has been raining in the mountains, there could be a heavy run-off that will swell the river, making it impossible to cross until the river recedes."
"I do not see—"
"Mara," he interrupted. "The river may look calm at the moment, but within moments it could become a raging torrent, with the run-off."
"If that is the case should we not cross now? I do not want to waste any more time than is necessary," Mara said.
"We shall see," he told her absentmindedly, and Mara knew from experience it would do no good to press him. Palomas would cross the river when and only when he thought it safe for her. It did not matter to him that she was queen. He always had the final decision concerning her safety.
Mara looked toward the mountains and could tell it was indeed raining hard. She stood up, knowing if they did not hurry, they would be caught on this side of the river, losing perhaps two or even three days before the swollen river would recede. She set her chin stubbornly. This time she would take the decision for crossing the river out of Palomas's hands. She walked purposefully toward her horse, took the reins from Matio and vaulted onto her horse's back.
"We cross the river now," she
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