Read Online Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page B
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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Grabbing onto a branch with one hand while his other hand encircled Mara's waist, he pushed her against the tree and pinned her body against the rough bark with his own body.
Mara leaned her head against his shoulder, too exhausted to even speak. The danger was not over, but for the moment they were safe. Mara raised her head and searched for Palomas. She strained her eye, but could see no sign of him. Her spirits plunged as she saw his riderless horse. The animal was dead and was bobbing up and down in the churning waters. Hot tears scalded her water-soaked face.
"I have killed him. I have killed Palomas," she cried, only to have her cry carried away by the sound of the raging floodwaters.
Matio knew he would have to get Mara to shore quickly, because the swift current was tearing at his arm muscles. He feared he could lose his hold on Mara at any moment.
"Do not despair, my queen, I shall save you," he said against her ear. He could feel her slight body tremble and he felt great love for her at that moment. He knew it was wrong to love the wife of the king, but no one would ever know but himself. Looking up, he saw a point where the river narrowed, just before it emptied into a larger river, and he knew he must save her before they reached that point. He noticed several large trees growing beside the river, their branches extending across the river at its narrowest point. If he could grab one of the overhanging branches he might be able to pull Mara to safety.
Matio pulled Mara away from the tree she had been clinging to and swung her around to his back. "Grab on to my neck and hold on tightly," he yelled, hoping to make himself heard above the churning waters.
Mara grasped his neck as her only lifeline. She could see that his intention was to grab the low-hanging branches and tried to relax so he could swim more easily.
Matio thought his arms would be torn from their sockets as he extended himself and reached for a branch. His hands were slippery and wet, and the bark of the tree cut into the palm of his hand. Mara's weight was slight, but now she was twice as heavy. He felt his grip slipping and swung his body around so he could grip the branch with both hands. Moments passed as they were suspended above the floodwaters. By pure strength of will, Matio knew, he would save her or lose his life trying.
Mara reached over her head and grabbed on to the branch, relieving Matio of some of her body weight. He was then able to swing his legs over the branch and pull her to safety. The branch dipped drunkenly with the combined weight of both their bodies, and Matio knew he must get her to the ground before it snapped. Holding her tightly in his arms, he inched toward the trunk of the tree.
It seemed to Mara that it had been hours since the whole ordeal had begun, but in truth it had been only the space of a few minutes. She could not bear to think that she had caused the whole thing, that because of her, many must have lost their lives this day. A dark curtain seemed to descend over her mind. Matio had jumped to the ground and held his arms up to her.
"Come to me. I will not let you drop," he said.
Mara did as he asked and she landed in his arms. He held her tightly in his arms and could feel the trembling of her slight body. The ground they were standing on was a good six feet below the cliff bank. It looked as if at some time in the far distant past a giant earthquake had broken this part of the land away from the rest of the shore. They would have to find a way to reach the top.
Mara raised her face and looked at Matio sadly. She knew the only reason she was not dead was because he would not allow her to give up. "You saved my life, Matio."
"Would that I could always stand between you and harm, my queen."
She touched his face softly, and saw the look of adoration in his eyes. "Oh, Matio, I fear because of me many lost their lives this day."
"I do not think anyone has lost his life, my queen. A Lagonda warrior is
Mara leaned her head against his shoulder, too exhausted to even speak. The danger was not over, but for the moment they were safe. Mara raised her head and searched for Palomas. She strained her eye, but could see no sign of him. Her spirits plunged as she saw his riderless horse. The animal was dead and was bobbing up and down in the churning waters. Hot tears scalded her water-soaked face.
"I have killed him. I have killed Palomas," she cried, only to have her cry carried away by the sound of the raging floodwaters.
Matio knew he would have to get Mara to shore quickly, because the swift current was tearing at his arm muscles. He feared he could lose his hold on Mara at any moment.
"Do not despair, my queen, I shall save you," he said against her ear. He could feel her slight body tremble and he felt great love for her at that moment. He knew it was wrong to love the wife of the king, but no one would ever know but himself. Looking up, he saw a point where the river narrowed, just before it emptied into a larger river, and he knew he must save her before they reached that point. He noticed several large trees growing beside the river, their branches extending across the river at its narrowest point. If he could grab one of the overhanging branches he might be able to pull Mara to safety.
Matio pulled Mara away from the tree she had been clinging to and swung her around to his back. "Grab on to my neck and hold on tightly," he yelled, hoping to make himself heard above the churning waters.
Mara grasped his neck as her only lifeline. She could see that his intention was to grab the low-hanging branches and tried to relax so he could swim more easily.
Matio thought his arms would be torn from their sockets as he extended himself and reached for a branch. His hands were slippery and wet, and the bark of the tree cut into the palm of his hand. Mara's weight was slight, but now she was twice as heavy. He felt his grip slipping and swung his body around so he could grip the branch with both hands. Moments passed as they were suspended above the floodwaters. By pure strength of will, Matio knew, he would save her or lose his life trying.
Mara reached over her head and grabbed on to the branch, relieving Matio of some of her body weight. He was then able to swing his legs over the branch and pull her to safety. The branch dipped drunkenly with the combined weight of both their bodies, and Matio knew he must get her to the ground before it snapped. Holding her tightly in his arms, he inched toward the trunk of the tree.
It seemed to Mara that it had been hours since the whole ordeal had begun, but in truth it had been only the space of a few minutes. She could not bear to think that she had caused the whole thing, that because of her, many must have lost their lives this day. A dark curtain seemed to descend over her mind. Matio had jumped to the ground and held his arms up to her.
"Come to me. I will not let you drop," he said.
Mara did as he asked and she landed in his arms. He held her tightly in his arms and could feel the trembling of her slight body. The ground they were standing on was a good six feet below the cliff bank. It looked as if at some time in the far distant past a giant earthquake had broken this part of the land away from the rest of the shore. They would have to find a way to reach the top.
Mara raised her face and looked at Matio sadly. She knew the only reason she was not dead was because he would not allow her to give up. "You saved my life, Matio."
"Would that I could always stand between you and harm, my queen."
She touched his face softly, and saw the look of adoration in his eyes. "Oh, Matio, I fear because of me many lost their lives this day."
"I do not think anyone has lost his life, my queen. A Lagonda warrior is
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