The Savage

They arrived at the ranch in late afternoon, weary and saddle-sore. As before, Billy came out to greet them, brandishing a shotgun, but when he saw Amelia, his mouth dropped opened.

“Aunt Amelia! Cripes…Ma, come out here! They found Aunt Amelia!”

He hurried forward, and Amelia, much to Summer’s surprise, allowed the boy to help her dismount. She fell into his sturdy arms sobbing, while Martha Truesdale came out onto the porch, carrying her own shotgun. She didn’t look as crazed as she had the last time, but her face twisted with hatred when she laid eyes on Lance. “I thought I told you, you stinkin’ Injun, you aren’t welcomed here. Get off my land.”

“Ma, he found Amelia!” Billy protested, while Lance sat unmoving in the saddle.

“I don’t care. I want him to get. And her, too.” She punctuated her command by waving the shotgun at Summer.

Amelia spoke up then, showing more backbone than she had since her rescue. “Summer’s staying, Martha. I don’t know where he is going, but my sister is staying with me.”

Mrs. Truesdale turned her malevolent gaze on Summer. After a brief inspection that made Summer want to shudder, she turned away. “Suit yourself—as long as he goes,” she muttered as she stalked back into the house.

“He can’t stay here,” Amelia echoed triumphantly. “He has to go.”

Ashamed of her sister’s appalling injustice, Summer pressed her lips together as she strove for patience. “Lance didn’t intend to spend the night, Melly. I explained all that to you. We owe the Comanche quite a few horses for helping rescue you, and Lance has to deliver them.”

“You owe that red filth nothing!”

“Lance gave his word-—”

“What does that matter?” Amelia replied with contempt. “He’s one of them. His word isn’t worth spit.”

“Summer, leave it,” Lance interrupted quietly. “I need to be on my way.”

She clenched her teeth in frustration, but gave up, seeing how pointless it was to argue with her sister just no

w. It would take time for Amelia to come to her senses and stop seeing Lance as her enemy, as a cruel brute who wished her harm.

With that issue apparently settled, Billy sent a cautious glance at Lance and helped Amelia into the house, leaving Summer alone with him.

“I’m sorry, Lance,” she said at once, in a weary voice.

He gave her a brief shrug, masking his own bitterness. He was grateful to her for championing him, but it galled him that she should have to do it—and terrified him that someday she might stop.

Dismounting, he walked around his horse to Summer’s and reached up for her. Without hesitation she placed her hands on his shoulders and let him assist her down.

For a moment, however, they stood facing each other, feeling the awkwardness of the moment, both aware of the people in the house behind them.

“I’ll only be two days,” Lance said finally. “I’ll ride into Belknap now and pick up the herd at the stage station. Burkett should have them waiting for me. I can get a few miles before dark if I push it.”

Summer’s expression softened with concern as she searched his face. “Don’t push too hard. You must be almost as tired as we are, after all the hard riding you’ve done.”

Surprisingly, his mouth twisted wryly. “Those are insulting words to a Comanche warrior, princess. I’m used to long hours on horseback, remember?”

“Lance, I didn’t mean to imply—”

He raised a finger to her lips, shushing her apology. “It’s okay, I know what you meant.”

And he thought he did. Summer still felt a strong sense of gratitude toward him, and accordingly felt obliged to worry about his welfare. Even knowing her reason, though, it couldn’t stop his heart from warming at her display of concern.

He wanted to express his own feelings in return. He wanted to take her in his arms, to hold her close, to remove that fancy bonnet and bury his face in her hair. But he forced himself to be content with surveying Summer’s face, memorizing it all once again—the emerald eyes with their sweeping dark lashes, the delicate cheekbones, the soft pink lips…

“You do have enough money to purchase the horses?” she asked pragmatically, interrupting his fanciful musings.

He smiled briefly. “Yeah, plenty. We got off cheap, considering.”

His eyes flickered, as if he’d just remembered something. Reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled out a wad of Union bills and handed it to her. “This is what your brother gave me to ransom Amelia. I won’t be needing it.”