something, looked around and saw that blankets and packs of clothing
were neatly rolled against the sides of the tepee and that there were
several cooking utensils by the fire that burned in the center of the
tepee. Its smoke escaped through the high hole.
There was a woman in the tepee already. A young, very pretty woman, who
stared at Tess with wide eyes. Tess stared in return, coloring as dread
filled her. Nalte had wanted a blond woman: He already had a wife. He
intended to rape her here in front of his first wife.
He took a step toward her. She tightened her fingers into fists at her
side.
There was no escape here. This was not a place like the haphazard
Comanchero dwelling. If she could escape Nalte she would only be caught
by his warriors.
Jamie had been so close! Rescue had been within reach. But now she
couldn't even hope that he would come against the Indians. Nalte would
kill him.
Tess gazed from the young woman to the Indian.
'You are a savage!'
she shouted. Tossing her hair, she stared at him defiantly.
'I don't want you. I don't want to be here! I was kidnapped for your
entertainment! And now here sits your poor wife, and you think that
you're going to ... that you're going to ... No!' she shouted, for
the flicker of amusement had deepened in his eyes, and he was striding
toward her.
She lashed out wildly, her fists pummeling his chest. He seemed to
barely notice her effort, and bent low to pick her up and throw her on a
blanket roll. She opened her mouth to scream, but he did not come close
to her.
He stepped back, watching her.
'This is not my wife. This is my sister. And because of her, you will be
safe from me this night. With the light we begin the ceremony that makes
her a woman.' He smiled at the woman, and there was deep affection in
his gaze, but it faded when he looked at Tess again.
'It is an important ceremony, a religious one.'
He turned and found another blanket roll. He had dismissed her entirely,
Tess thought. She stared from the war' riot to the young woman, longing
to bolt for the opening. Nalte was already stretching out comfortably on
his blanket.
The woman tried to smile at Tess. She patted the ground, indicating that
Tess should sleep.
Tess swallowed, keeping a wary eye on Nalte. She pulled out a blanket
and carefully lay down on it. Stretching out, she pretended to close her
eyes.
But she kept watching Nalte. When he slept, she would try to escape. If
she could return to the trail in the mountains, she could possibly find
Jamie.
Was he alone? she wondered. Or was Jon out there somewhere with him?
She was exhausted, and tears threatened her eyes. No matter how hard she
tried, or how she fought, she never seemed to escape the fate that yon
Heusen had intended for her.
