Her silence made him feel lower than dirt.
Untying the red bandanna around his neck, Lance pushed himself to his feet and then side-slid down the creekbank. He dipped the cloth in the water, wrung it out, and climbed back up to her. Keeping his movements slow, he hunkered down before her.
She was watching him warily with those big, green, shimmering eyes. Tentatively, awkwardly, he raised the damp cloth to her face, brushing it over the soft white skin of her cheek, wiping away the tears.
It was torture being this close to her. Her lower lip trembled, and all he could think of was how much he wanted to kiss her mouth, and how much he hated himself for wanting to. He didn’t know how to handle all the feelings roiling inside him: lust, tenderness, regret, self-contempt, anger. What he felt most of all was anger, because she was still beautiful, damn her, and because he still wanted her.
Even so, he knew he owed her an apology. “I’m sorry I got riled,” he muttered. “It’s just that…you and your damned female tricks. I don’t like being played for a fool.”
She bit her lip in an obvious struggle for composure, which only had the unwanted effect of drawing his gaze to her mouth.
He clenched his own jaw. “You weren’t really swooning, were you?”
“No.” Summer lowered her gaze in shame. He had seen through her. She had tried to manipulate him, tried playing the same sort of calculating games she had been so good at as a girl, just as she had five years ago. She felt ashamed of herself—until she remembered Amelia.
“I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to trick you. It’s just that I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve been so afraid…so helpless. I hate feeling this way.”
Finishing with his task, Lance sat back, draping his forearms over his spread knees. He didn’t like feeling this way, either. He hated knowing all Summer had to do was look at him and he lost control. She still had the power to turn his insides to jelly. It scared him, how helpless he was against the emotion he’d thought long vanquished. He wouldn’t let her see the power she held over him, though.
He looked away, watching the rippling creek water for a time, before finally saying in a low voice, “It’s a fool notion, thinking you can save your sister.”
She swallowed. “Perhaps so, but I have to try. I can’t give up without at least trying.”
He was silent for another long moment. “You can’t just waltz into Indian Territory. You’re liable to get your pretty scalp taken—or your body used to warm some warrior’s bed.”
“I know…I couldn’t. But you might be able to.” She hesitated. “Couldn’t you, Lance?”
He plucked at a fern, tearing off a leaf and shredding it between his fingers. “I don’t know. I guess I’d go to my father’s people first. There’s no way I could find your sister without their help.”
“Would you try? Please? After Reed, Amelia is all the family I have left. Please…I won’t play any more games. I’m asking honestly for your help, begging you.”
He hesitated so long, she thought he wasn’t going to answer.
“I might consider it,” he said finally. He turned his dark, brooding gaze on her. “On one condition.”
Her heart leapt with elation. Eagerly Summer rose up on her knees. “Whatever you want, whatever it takes. I’ll give you anything I have.”
“There’s only one thing you have that I might want.”
“What is it? Money? We’re not rich, but we weren’t hurt as badly by the war as some. We could pay you.”
He shook his head. “Not money. I have enough for my needs.”
“Well, what, then? Land? The ranch is part mine. Papa left me and Amelia each a quarter of the valley, and Reed the rest. I’ll give you my share. It’s worth a lot.”
Agreeing silently, Lance let his gaze drift upward, over the rolling horizon. Among the hills of Sky Valley lay plenty of prime grazing pasture, with abundant water from the countless springs, where
horses could grow sleek and swift and surefooted. He had dreamed of this land. Coveted it. Ached to have it.
“I know. It’s good land. But that’s not what I want.”
“What is it then?”
He squinted off in the distance. “You, princess.”
Her heart felt as if it had suddenly stopped beating. “Me?” The word was a breathless murmur of sound. “W-What do you mean?”
“I want you. For my wife.” The corner of his mouth curved in a faint smile. “All legal-like. I wouldn’t want you to think I’d ask you to do something indecent.”