her abdomen. “And soon I will be more content.”
“Do you think they will love you more because you give them a half-breed baby?” Silver asked bitterly. You are blind. They will treat your child as they treat me.”
“You’re wrong. Joshua will not permit his baby to be treated as an outcast,” Rising Star said quietly. “He wants our child very much.”
“Did he tell you this?”
“No, but I know it to be true,” Rising Star said. “It is natural for a man to want a child. If I had been able to give him a son before, there would have been less-” She paused. “Things will be better once the child is born.”
“How do you know?” Silver tossed the thick braid back over her shoulder and turned to face her aunt. “What if the child does not help? Will you stay here and grow old with these people who think you are less than they?”
“Joshua does not treat me as they do. There is love between us.”
Silver’s eyes blazed. “I do not understand a love that makes you grow quieter and sadder with every year. Joshua should fight them and make them treat you as a member of the family.”
Rising Star shook her head sadly. “I cannot expect to be treated as a Delaney until I’m truly one of them. The child will help. Joshua will-”
“He is cold to you,” Silver said angrily. “When he is with you, there is no closeness. He will not change because-” She stopped as she saw the pain that tightened Rising Stars features. She muttered something beneath her breath and suddenly sprang to her feet and ran across the room. She dropped to her knees before Rising Star, her arms encircling her aunt’s waist, her cheek pressed against her breasts. Her words were muffled. “I am sorry. I grow so angry and the words rise up and cannot be stopped. I did not mean to sting you.”
“I know.” Rising Star’s hand tenderly stroked Silver’s shining dark hair. “But you’re wrong, Silver, Joshua does love me. It is not easy for him to be married to me.”
“Why? You give everything and take nothing. You have become everything they want you to be. They wanted no ignorant savages in their house, so you studied and became more learned than any of them. You cast off your comfortable Indian garments and wear clothes that bind and stifle. You speak softly and are kind to everyone.” She lifted her head to smile wryly. “Even to me, who causes you much pain.” The smile faded. “You are a great lady and they do not see it. It would be better for you to come away with me. I will take such good care of you,” she promised with touching, childlike earnestness.
Rising Star chuckled. “And what would two lone women do wandering around by ourselves?”
Silver grinned back at her. “We would see all the great cities of the world. We would sing and dance. I would learn to play the piano and you could use the French you taught yourself. We would be white when we wished, and Indian when it suited us. It would be a truly splendid life, Rising Star.” She lowered her voice coaxingly. “Come with me, there is nothing for us here.”
Rising Star shook her head. “There is something for me, I believe. And if there is not, there is nothing for me anywhere. I love my husband, Silver.”
Silver opened her lips to protest but then closed them without speaking. There was a moment of silence in the room before she said softly, “Then God deliver me from man-woman love.” She lifted her chin and her gray eyes were suddenly dancing. “No, I will deliver myself and I will deliver you too. I will wait until the child is born and then I will come back and whisk you both away. I will show you a woman doesn’t need a man to clutter her life. Friendship is much better. You have been white too long. You need me to show you how-” She broke off at the knock on the door. “Don’t move, I will answer it.” She jumped to her feet and walked swiftly toward the door.
“Wait,” Rising Star said in alarm. “Your tunic…”
Silver glanced down at her partial nudity, and a mischievous smile lit her face. She tossed her head. “I don’t feel like putting it back on. I am being Indian now.” She reached for the doorknob. “And I am sure, if it is Malvina or Shamus, they will understand.”
“Silver don’t-”
Silver threw open the door.
Full, exquisite golden breasts crowned by dusky pink nipples thrust forward in naked taunting splendor.
“My God, Silver, what the hell are you up to?” Patrick forced his gaze away from that beautifully blatant nudity and raised it to her face.
“Oh!” Her smile disappeared and her lips turned down with disappointment. “I was hoping it was the old woman or Shamus.”
“I see.” He stepped into the room, retrieved her elkskin tunic from the bed, and handed it to her. “In fact, I’m seeing entirely too much. Now that you know you can’t do any damage, will you save my blushes?”
She shrugged carelessly. “I suppose I must.” She pulled the tunic over her head. “Did you see Elspeth?”
He nodded. “Down at the corral.” His gaze went to Rising Star at the desk. “I thought I’d drop by and say hello. I haven’t seen you for a week or so.”
Rising Star’s smile lit up her face. “That is your fault. If you had not moved out of the house into the bunkhouse in the village, we would still see each other every day.” Her eyes glowed softly. “I miss you, Patrick.”
He flushed. “It was time I moved out. I’m no kid any longer and…” He trailed off awkwardly. “How are you? The baby?”
“The baby is well, and I am well.” Rising Star made a face. “Though I’ll be glad to have the next two months over with. I’m tired of being fat and ugly.”
“You’re not ugly,” Patrick said quickly.
Rising Star’s eyes twinkled. “You mean I’m only fat?”
“I didn’t say that. It’s natural…”
“For me to be fat.” Rising Star chuckled. “What’s wrong with you, Patrick? I never knew you to be at a loss for words before.” She arched a teasing brow. “Did seeing Elspeth bring about this sudden fluster?”
He blinked. “Elspeth?”
“Well, it’s time you became serious about a young woman. Why don’t you see if you can-”
“I have to leave.” He jammed his hat on his head and turned away. “I just thought I’d see how you were feeling.” He opened the door. “And to say hello to Silver, of course.”
“Of course,” Silver murmured ironically.
“I’ll see you soon.” The door closed behind him.
Rising Star’s smooth brow wrinkled in a puzzled frown. “What’s wrong with him? He’s behaving very strangely lately.”
Silver turned to her in surprise. Her aunt was not often blind to pain in the people she cared about, but there was no doubt she was not aware of the malady that afflicted Patrick. Well, Silver would not be the one to tell her. Rising Star had enough to bear without burdening her with a love she could not return. “He is not a boy any longer. You are used to thinking of him as the child you loved and taught. It is natural for him to draw apart from you now.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Rising Star said wistfully. “I’ll miss him, Silver. He always seemed like my child, my little brother…” She made a helpless gesture with one hand. “Oh, so many things.” She drew a deep breath and then straightened. “I’m being foolish to take on like this when I have so much to be grateful for.” She stood up. “Why don’t we go for a walk? It’s the only exercise I get since I gave up riding last month.”
“Why not?” Silver turned and opened the door, then she glanced back over her shoulder with a resigned smile. “I guess you’re going to make me keep on my tunic?”
“You’re entirely correct,” Rising Star said serenely.
“I was afraid you were. Oh, well, I can wait.” Silver’s eyes lit with a speculative gleam. “Shamus did not care for me wearing my ‘heathen’ clothes in Malvina’s fine dining room. Perhaps he would prefer me without any clothes at all.”
Dominic had already dismounted and thrown the reins of his horse to Ramon when Elspeth rode more slowly into the stableyard. Without a glance at her or a word to Ramon, he turned and strode across the courtyard and into the house.
Elspeth gazed after him, a multitude of emotions pouring through her-anger, fear, indignation, and something else she refused to examine closely. She was only half aware of Ramon helping her from the saddle until he spoke.
