'He was?'
'It was a fine snake, Lyon.'
'I see.'
She could hear the smile in his voice but didn't take exception. 'Mother was also pleased. I must have watched the way my brother held his prize, and the shaman said I was envious of the attention given my brother, too, for I went out to capture a snake of my own. No one could find me for several hours. I was very little and in constant mischief.'
'Ah, so that is why your father lost his temper,' Lyon announced. 'Your disappearance must have-'
'No, that isn't the reason,' Christina interjected. 'Though of course he was unhappy that I'd left the safety of the village.'
'Well, then?' Lyon prodded when she didn't immediately continue with her story.
'Everyone was frantically searching for me when I strutted back into the village. Mama said I always strutted because I tried to imitate my brother's swagger. White Eagle walked like a proud warrior, you see.'
The memory of the story she'd heard so many times during her growing years made her smile. 'And did you have a snake with you when you strutted back into the village?' Lyon asked.
'Oh, yes,' she answered. 'The shaman recounted that I held it just as my brother had held his snake. Father was standing on the far side of the fires. Mother stood beside him. Neither showed any outward reaction to my prize. They didn't want to frighten me into dropping the snake, I was told later. Anyway,' she added with a sigh, 'Father walked over to me. He took the snake out of my hand, killed it, and then began to shout at me. Mother knew I didn't understand. Father had praised my brother, you see, yet he was yelling at me.'
'Why do you think that was?' Lyon asked, already dreading her answer.
'My brother's snake wasn't poisonous.'
'Oh, God.'
The tremble in her husband's voice made her laugh. 'Father was soon over his anger. The shaman announced that the spirits had protected me. I was their lioness, you see. Mama said Father was also sorry for making me cry. He took me riding with him that afternoon and let me sit on his lap during the evening meal.'
The parallel was too good to pass up. 'Your father was frightened,' Lyon announced. 'He loved you, Christina-so much so that when he saw the danger you were in, his discipline deserted him. Just like my discipline deserted me when I saw the danger you were in yesterday.'
He dragged her up on top of him so he could look into her eyes. 'It was his duty to keep my lioness safe for me.'
Christina slowly nodded. 'I think you would like my father. You're very like him in many ways. You're just as arrogant. Oh, don't frown, Lyon. I give you a compliment when I say you're arrogant. You're full of bluster, too.'
She sounded too sincere for Lyon to take insult. 'What is your father's name?' he asked.
'Black Wolf.'
'Will he like me?'
'No.'
He wasn't insulted by her abrupt answer. In truth, he was close to laughing. 'Care to tell me why not?'
'He hates the whites. Doesn't trust them.'
'That's why you have such a suspicious nature, isn't it?'
'Perhaps.'
She rested the side of her face against Lyon 's shoulder.
'You're still a little suspicious of me, too, aren't you?'
'I don't know,' she admitted with a sigh.
'I trust you, my sweet. Completely.'
She didn't show any reaction.
'Christina, I want equal measure. I will have your trust. And not just for a day or two. Those are my terms.'
She slowly lifted her head to stare at Lyon. 'And if I'm unable to meet your terms?' she asked.
He saw the worry in her eyes. 'You tell me,' he whispered.
'You'll set me aside,' she whispered.
He shook his head. 'No.'
'No? Then what?'
He wanted to kiss her frown away. 'I'll wait. I'll still love you. In your heart you really don't believe me, do you? You think you'll do something to displease me and I'll quit loving you. It won't happen, Christina.'
She was humbled by his fervent words. 'I worry.' Her confession was whispered in a forlorn voice. 'There are times when I don't think I shall ever fit in. I'm like a circle trying to squeeze into a square.'
'Everyone feels like that at times,' Lyon told her, smiling over her absurd analogy. 'You're vulnerable. Are there times when you still want to go home?'
His hands caressed her shoulders while he waited for her answer. 'I couldn't leave you,' she answered. 'And I couldn't take you back with me. You're my family now, Lyon.' Her frown intensified. 'It really isn't going to be easy for you, living with me.'
'Marriage is never easy in the beginning,' he answered. 'We both have to learn to compromise. In time we'll understand each other's needs.'
'Your family and your staff will think me odd.'
'They already do.'
Her frown was forced now, and a sparkle appeared in her eyes. 'That was unkind of you to say,' she told him.
'No, it was an honest admission. They think I'm odd, too. Do you care so much what others think of you, Christina?'
She shook her head. 'Only you, Lyon. I care what you think.'
He showed her how pleased he was to hear her admission by kissing her.
'I also care what you think,' Lyon whispered. 'Will my shoes be lining the steps outside again?'
'The old ways are familiar to me,' Christina explained. 'I was so angry with you. It was all I could think to do to make you realize how unhappy you'd made me.'
'Thank God you didn't try to leave me.'
'Try?'
'You know I'd chase you down and drag you back where you belong.'
'Yes, I knew you would. You are a warrior, after all.'
Lyon moved Christina to his side, determined to finish their conversation before making love to her again. Her hand moved to his thigh. It was a distraction. Lyon captured both her hands and gave her a gentle squeeze. 'Christina? Did you ever love another man? Was there someone back home who captured your heart?'
Her head was tucked under his chin. Christina smiled, knowing Lyon couldn't see her reaction. He'd tensed against her after he'd asked the question. He hadn't been able to keep the worry out of his voice.
He was letting her see his vulnerability. 'When I was very young, I thought I'd grow up and marry White Eagle. Then, when I was seven summers or so, I put those silly thoughts aside. He was my brother, after all.'
'Was there anyone else?'
'No. Father wouldn't let any of the warriors walk with me. He knew I had to return to the whites. My destiny had already been decided.'
'Who decided your destiny?' Lyon asked.
'The dream.'
Christina waited for his next question, but after a minute or two, when she realized he wasn't going to ask her to explain, she decided to tell him anyway.
She wanted him to understand.
The story of the shaman's journey to the top of the mountain to seek his vision captured Lyon 's full attention.
The dream made him smile. 'If your mother hadn't called you a lioness, would the shaman ever have-'
'He would have sorted it all out,' Christina interrupted. 'I had white-blond hair and blue eyes, just like the
