Read Online Silken Savage by Catherine Hart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Catherine Hart
Ads: Link
direction.
“She is no longer fighting her fate,” he reasoned, greatly pleased by the thought and her gesture.
Later that day he presented her with a beautifully decorated headband. It was his first true gift to her, and her delighted smile lit up her face. She sat there looking so captivatingly lovely that Panther’s breath caught in his throat. “I would bring you gifts each day if you would smile upon me each time as you do now,” he teased her, enjoying the way she blushed at his comment.
“I shall smile for you if you bring me no gifts at all,” she answered shyly.
As he absorbed her words, he asked, “Are you happy here now, Little Wildcat? Do you no longer desire to escape or pray for rescue?”
His heart nearly stopped at the spark of love in her eyes as she met his questioning gaze. “I have no wish to leave here, Panther,” she admitted softly. “My life is with you, as long as you wish it.”
One more thing he had to know. “Do you not grieve for your lost love?”
Momentarily startled by his question, she wondered how he knew about that, but she pondered it only for a second. “I belong to you now, Panther. It is you I love. You hold my heart in your hands.” Her face held a solemn promise.
“Then I must treat such a treasure gently,” he responded tenderly, as he gathered her into his arms. Never had Tanya seen such a magnificent, victorious smile as Panther’s. Then his lips claimed hers in a kiss that branded her his forever; the Panther’s mate, his Wildcat.
Chapter 4
TWO DAYS later the tribe moved. The tipis were pulled down, packed and loaded on pack horses and travois. Robes, rugs, mats, and parfleches loaded with household and personal items were secured alongside the burdened beasts.
Tanya was amazed at how swiftly and easily everything was accomplished. These people were used to being on the move and had developed a rhythm and economy of motion that allowed them to prepare to relocate with very little fuss and bother.
One last time Tanya checked the knots, making sure the bundles were properly tied for the journey ahead. It was early morning, and the sun hadn’t yet burned the dew off the grass. A slight breeze brought the freshness of spring to her nostrils, and the sun shone gently, warming her upturned face.
She turned as she heard Panther approaching astride his big black horse. Panther’s cousin, Winter Bear, rode beside him, leading a buckskin horse behind. Tanya liked Winter Bear. A mere inch shorter than Panther, he was a handsome young man with a friendly, ready smile. He and Panther were very close in age, and had grown up together. More like brothers than cousins, they liked and respected one another, and either would lay down his life for the other if need be. They had spent their boyhoods playing and working side by side, became warriors at the same time, went on raids and war parties together, and shared joy and sorrow throughout the years.
There was a slight family resemblance between the two men, but their attitudes were often different. Panther was much more arrogant, Tanya thought. Winter Bear was less volatile, more calm and quiet, with an inner serenity that shone in his dark eyes. Though Tanya preferred Panther, with his flashes of anger and passion, she found Winter Bear pleasant to have around. It seemed to her that the two men complemented one another; Winter Bear with his calm and thoughtful ways, and Panther with his quick intelligence and vitality.
Tanya smiled as the two men approached. “Is everything ready?” Panther asked, looking about.
“All is packed, Panther, unless you have something else for me to do,” Tanya answered softly.
“Good. Now come, Little Wildcat, it is time to mount.”
As she walked to the side of his horse, preparing to mount behind him, he shook his head and smiled. “No, Wildcat, you shall not ride with me this time.” He gestured to the beautiful buckskin mare, complete with saddle and bridle. “You shall
“She is no longer fighting her fate,” he reasoned, greatly pleased by the thought and her gesture.
Later that day he presented her with a beautifully decorated headband. It was his first true gift to her, and her delighted smile lit up her face. She sat there looking so captivatingly lovely that Panther’s breath caught in his throat. “I would bring you gifts each day if you would smile upon me each time as you do now,” he teased her, enjoying the way she blushed at his comment.
“I shall smile for you if you bring me no gifts at all,” she answered shyly.
As he absorbed her words, he asked, “Are you happy here now, Little Wildcat? Do you no longer desire to escape or pray for rescue?”
His heart nearly stopped at the spark of love in her eyes as she met his questioning gaze. “I have no wish to leave here, Panther,” she admitted softly. “My life is with you, as long as you wish it.”
One more thing he had to know. “Do you not grieve for your lost love?”
Momentarily startled by his question, she wondered how he knew about that, but she pondered it only for a second. “I belong to you now, Panther. It is you I love. You hold my heart in your hands.” Her face held a solemn promise.
“Then I must treat such a treasure gently,” he responded tenderly, as he gathered her into his arms. Never had Tanya seen such a magnificent, victorious smile as Panther’s. Then his lips claimed hers in a kiss that branded her his forever; the Panther’s mate, his Wildcat.
Chapter 4
TWO DAYS later the tribe moved. The tipis were pulled down, packed and loaded on pack horses and travois. Robes, rugs, mats, and parfleches loaded with household and personal items were secured alongside the burdened beasts.
Tanya was amazed at how swiftly and easily everything was accomplished. These people were used to being on the move and had developed a rhythm and economy of motion that allowed them to prepare to relocate with very little fuss and bother.
One last time Tanya checked the knots, making sure the bundles were properly tied for the journey ahead. It was early morning, and the sun hadn’t yet burned the dew off the grass. A slight breeze brought the freshness of spring to her nostrils, and the sun shone gently, warming her upturned face.
She turned as she heard Panther approaching astride his big black horse. Panther’s cousin, Winter Bear, rode beside him, leading a buckskin horse behind. Tanya liked Winter Bear. A mere inch shorter than Panther, he was a handsome young man with a friendly, ready smile. He and Panther were very close in age, and had grown up together. More like brothers than cousins, they liked and respected one another, and either would lay down his life for the other if need be. They had spent their boyhoods playing and working side by side, became warriors at the same time, went on raids and war parties together, and shared joy and sorrow throughout the years.
There was a slight family resemblance between the two men, but their attitudes were often different. Panther was much more arrogant, Tanya thought. Winter Bear was less volatile, more calm and quiet, with an inner serenity that shone in his dark eyes. Though Tanya preferred Panther, with his flashes of anger and passion, she found Winter Bear pleasant to have around. It seemed to her that the two men complemented one another; Winter Bear with his calm and thoughtful ways, and Panther with his quick intelligence and vitality.
Tanya smiled as the two men approached. “Is everything ready?” Panther asked, looking about.
“All is packed, Panther, unless you have something else for me to do,” Tanya answered softly.
“Good. Now come, Little Wildcat, it is time to mount.”
As she walked to the side of his horse, preparing to mount behind him, he shook his head and smiled. “No, Wildcat, you shall not ride with me this time.” He gestured to the beautiful buckskin mare, complete with saddle and bridle. “You shall
Similar Books
