“You’re safe now,” he said quietly. “Your sister’s here to take care of you.”
When still she made no response, Lance picked Amelia up in his arms and carried her into the tepee, where he laid her gently on the pile of buffalo hides Short Dress had prepared for the white invalid and covered her with a blanket. When he stepped back, Amelia closed her eyes in exhaustion.
Summer took Lance’s place, kneeling beside her sister, wanting to touch her, to help her, but not knowing quite how. This limp, broken rag doll bore no resemblance to the strong, loving woman Amelia had once been.
Summer’s throat ached with tears as she took Amelia’s hand in hers. “You’re safe now, Melly,” she murmured, repeating Lance’s words. “You don’t have to be afraid of anything.” Helplessly she smoothed back a lank lock of hair from Amelia’s forehead, the same task her sister had performed for her countless times during her girlhood.
Amelia’s eyelids fluttered opened. “Summer…?” She said the name awkwardly, like a confused child.
“Yes, I’m here, Melly. I’m here.”
Amelia blinked and stared. Then suddenly she shuddered, and her body started shaking uncontrollably.
“They hurt me,” she complained in a bewildered, trembling voice.
Forcibly Summer bit back a sob and gathered her sister carefully in her arms. “I know, dearest. But it’s over. No one will hurt you again. Now, go to sleep. You need to rest.”
Obediently Amelia shut her eyes. “Don’t leave me. Please…don’t leave me.”
“I won’t, I promise. I’ll be right here.” You don’t have to be afraid, love. I’ll protect you. I’ll always be here for you. How many countless times had she heard those poignant words from Amelia?
She rocked her sister slowly, while tears slipped heedlessly down her cheeks. Eventually, though, Amelia’s trembling lessened and her quiet breathing told Summer that she had fallen asleep. Gently, with infinite care, she laid her precious burden down and tucked the blanket around Amelia’s shoulders.
Lance, who had been watching quietly, felt the heavy burden of responsibility lift from his own shoulders. “I’ll find another place to sleep for a while,” he murmured. “And I’ll take my nephews as well. She needs peace and quiet.”
Summer raised eyes glistening with gratitude to him. “Lance…thank you for saving her. I know I can never repay you.”
He tried to smile reassuringly, but managed only a faint twist of his mouth. It wasn’t repayment he wanted from Summer. Nor indebtedness, either. What he wanted from her was far more profound, far more unattainable. What he wanted from her was love.
But he guessed he would have to make do with gratitude. That at least was more than he’d ever had from her before.
“Don’t thank me yet,” he replied more gruffly than he intended. “I may have managed only a brief reprieve. Her captor is no doubt riding after her right now—with the intention of reclaiming his property.”
The sudden alarm that shadowed Summer’s green eyes gave Lance a tiny measure of satisfaction. He ought to feel ashamed, finding hope in her fear. But the plain truth was, he couldn’t regret having her dependent on him. As long as Summer needed him at least a little, there was still a change he might earn something more from her than gratitude.
Chapter 14
The danger indeed was not over, Summer learned a scant hour later. Her sister might have been rescued, but the issue of Amelia’s ownership was by no means resolved.
As she sat beside Amelia’s sleeping form, praying for her swift recovery, Summer heard a commotion outside the tepee—men’s voices raised in anger. Only when she recognized Lance’s deep tones, though, did she reluctantly leave her sister’s side to investigate.
The sight that greeted her made her stomach clench with dread. A war party of perhaps two dozen Comanches sat astride their sweating ponies, the glistening blades of their lances blazing as they caught the sun. The men looked barbaric and altogether frightening, with streaks of black paint adorning their cheekbones and broad foreheads.
Their leader seemed the most angry. He was arguing fiercely with Lance, who stood in front of Fights Bear’s lodge. The conversation ended suddenly. Just as abruptly the warriors swung their horses around and rode away.
Summer glanced around her with growing fear, certain the altercation hadn’t concluded so easily. A small crowd of Comanches had gathered to observe, but Short Dress was nowhere in sight, and Summer had no one to translate for her. When Lance turned on his heel to enter Fights Bear’s tepee, she followed him inside.
She found him stripping off his leggings. “What is it, Lance? Who were those men?”
He barely gave her a glance. “Amelia’s captor and friends. Tuhsinah wants to avenge his honor.”
Summer stared. Lance had warned her what to expect, but she hadn’t wanted to believe the nightmare still wasn’t ended. “What…do you mean, avenge his honor?”
“It isn’t over yet. I stole Amelia from him, and he’s come to claim her.”
Panic seized her at the thought of turning Amelia back over to that vicious brute. “You won’t let him take her?”
Lance shook his head grimly. “He’ll have to fight me first.”