The Savage

Deek turned to stare at her. “Wife? Goldamn, you don’t say.” Evidently recollecting his manners then, he whipped off his hat and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “I’m right pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

“This is Deek McTavish,” Lance said to Summer, in a cool tone. “I’ve known him since I was twelve.” His features had turned expressionless, as if he were waiting for her response.

Summer summoned the charming smile that had never failed to win male hearts. “I’m pleased to meet you as well, Mr. McTavish.”

Almost imperceptibly, Lance relaxed, while his friend shook his head. “Just Deek. Everybody calls me Deek.”

“Deek, then. If you would help me down, Deek, I would be eternally grateful. I fear I’m stuck to the saddle.”

The bear threw back his head and roared, but he hastened to her rescue, swinging her down and supporting her elbow while she recovered her balance.

“I still cain’t believe yer hitched,” he said to Lance. “How’d somebody as ugly as you ever wind up with somebody so purty?”

To Summer’s surprise, Lance laughed, a slow, rusty sound that caught at her heart. “Who are you to be calling me ugly?” he retorted, avoiding an explanation as well as his wife’s gaze.

“Well, come on in and set. Topusana’s fixing some stew. You’ll stay the night, o’course,” he said to Lance.

Without waiting for a reply, Deek ushered them inside a room that was crowded with every imaginable kind of merchandise. A small Indian woman was bent over the fireplace, and when Deek made the introductions, Lance’s scrutiny of a moment ago was repeated, with him watching Summer closely to see how she would react. He expected her to shun his friends, she knew, and she was determined to prove otherwise. Her greeting to Deek’s wife, Topusana, held as much charm as she could muster, and she was pleased when the Comanche woman shyly returned a smile.

When Lance excused himself to see to the horses, Deek settled her at the wooden table and poured her a cup of coffee without asking if it was wanted, then kept her entertained by telling her his life history.

He had been trading here for twenty years, Summer learned, with the Comanches and Kiowas as well as white settlers. The Comanches pretty much left him alone, since he was married to one of them.

When Lance came in, he found Summer and Deek laughing together over one of Deek’s exploits against a bull buffalo. The spear of jealousy that shot through Lance was as sharp as the hatred he’d felt toward the Yarby brothers—which was inexplicable, considering that Deek was likely the dearest friend he had. But maybe it was because his wife was laughing with another man, sharing an easy moment with someone else when his own relationship with her was so strained. Maybe it was because her laughter faded as soon as she set eyes on him. Maybe because he remembered how she’d let Deek help her down from the saddle a while ago when she didn’t want her own husband touching her.

Clenching his teeth, Lance poured himself a cup of coffee and settled himself at the table.

“So what brings you here?” Deek finally got around to asking.

“I need to buy a few things from you, presents and such.”

“Always glad to take yer money, son. Just tell me what you need.”

Lance began by explaining why they intended to journey into Indian Territory. Deek shook his head sorrowfully when he heard about Amelia, and pronounced it wise to get help from Lance’s kin.

“Last I heard, Fights Bear was camped out on Otter Creek, but that was more’n a month ago. They’re likely getting ready to move for the fall hunt by now.”

“Probably. But Otter Creek’s a good enough place to start.”

Deek glanced skeptically at Summer. “You ain’t gonna take her with you?”

Lance shrugged. “It’s her sister. She wants to go.”

Flushing under the trader’s scrutiny, Summer said lamely, “Amelia might need me.”

“Well, you better rig her out in somethin’ besides that fancy dress. She’ll stand out like a red flag, otherwise.”

“I intend to. I thought Topusana might agree to loan her one of her deerskin dresses.”

Deek nodded. “Fights Bear know

you’re coming?”

“No.”

Summer looked from one to the other. “Who is Fights Bear?”

Deek frowned at Lance. “Didn’t you tell her nothin’ about yer kin?” Without waiting for a reply, he explained, “Fights Bear is Lance’s brother…half brother, actually. He’s a war chief of the Panataka Comanches. They’re Honey Eaters. Topusana comes from the same band.”