ago, and the sincere hugs that she had given him. Especially when the day came for him to leave the Navaho’s stronghold, to return to life as he had known it before being taken captive by Sage and his warriors.
He looked over at Sage. Adam had forgiven him long ago for having taken captives from the stagecoach. While living among the Navaho that short time, with Sage as their leader, he admired the man and the reason behind his decision to take captives. Sage’s life had been filled with many injustices.
Adam had to confess to himself that it made him a bit nervous to try and swindle Sage into more injustices, yet he would not, for the world, change what he had started, and would fight for it to the end.
Even if that fight was with Sage.
Tense from the audience of Navaho, Stephanie glued her hands to the reins and sat straight and unmoving in the saddle. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Navaho women sitting outside in the shade of their hogans. They had momentarily stopped carding and spinning their wool to stare at her and Adam.
Her gaze also took in the flocks of sheep and goats that were corraled behind each Navaho dwelling. A garden of corn and other vegetables was squared off on a small plot of ground a short distance from the corral. From her studies of the Navaho, before coming to Arizona Territory, she had learned that their four sacred plants were corn, squash, beans, and tobacco.
She shifted her gaze and saw that the doors of all of the hogans opened to the east side. She remembered reading that the Navaho constructed their dwellings in this fashion so that they could welcome the morning sun and receive good blessings. An old Navaho house-blessing hymn that she had read came to mind: “Beauty extends from the fireside of my hogan. Beauty radiates from it in every direction.”
Stephanie looked ahead. Her heart leapt and her knees grew weak with desire as her eyes met and held with Runner’s, where he stood with his parents outside a large hogan.
Self-conscious, she turned her eyes away from him and looked over at Sage. She recoiled somewhat when she saw his sour expression. She knew then that she and Adam were not welcome.
Swallowing hard, she turned her gaze only a short ways, finding the tall and stately woman beside Sage smiling at her. Her eyes were warm, which proved that she indeed welcomed those who were coming today to pay a short visit.
Leonida, Stephanie thought to herself. That must be Leonida.
Stephanie’s gaze swept over Leonida. She was a beautiful woman of an imposing presence, her wealth of golden hair flowing across her shoulders. She wore a lovely velveteen skirt and blouse, and a lacy apron over the skirt. The apron proved that Leonida had not entirely let go of her white past just because she was married to Sage.
Stephanie looked slowly over at Runner again. She had hoped that by now he would have come to her to welcome her; instead he remained with his parents even after Stephanie and Adam drew rein close by, the pack mule behind them.
Leonida was the first to step forward. She went to Adam, and when he dismounted, she swept him quickly into her arms. “Adam,” she said, hugging him tightly. “I need no introductions. You have not changed all that much.”
He returned the hug, hope rising within him that she might be more willing to help him than anyone.
Leonida stepped away from him and held his hands. “Yes, there is some change,” she said, laughing softly. “You are no longer an adorable little boy. You are grown now, and very handsome.”
“Mature is more like it,” Adam said, chuckling.
“Come inside and tell me about yourself and your mother,” Leonida said, ignoring her husband’s unpleasant glance. She looked over at Stephanie, then went to her. “You must be Adam’s sister. Runner told me all about you.”
Stephanie blushed as she cast Runner a soft smile, then moved into Leonida’s embrace. She found it comforting, especially now that she could tell that Adam had a fight on his hands as far as Sage was concerned. Sage had yet to smile, or make any effort to welcome her and Adam to his village.
Nor had Runner.
Yet it was in Runner’s eyes how he felt. Stephanie knew that she would be welcome anywhere as long as he was there.
Leonida swung away from Stephanie. “Come inside and sit by the fire,” she said, lifting the hem of her skirt. “The air is cool today.”
She went to Sage and took his hand, their eyes meeting. When she smiled up at him, he was, as always, unable to resist her and went with her inside the hogan with everyone else.
Adam walked beside Stephanie. His heart did a strange sort of flip-flop when he discovered someone sitting beside the fireplace on a Navaho blanket, her sewing resting on her lap.
Adam smiled awkwardly when Pure Blossom turned her face up to him and gazed raptly at him. A magical connection linked them at first glance.
He swept his eyes over her in silent admiration. She was slight and fragile and ever so beautiful with wide, dark eyes. Her luxurious black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, the ends resting on the floor of the hogan.
She wore a blue velveteen blouse and a skirt of bright calico. A beautiful thick string of coral hung around her neck. Just scarcely exposed beneath the long hem of her skirt were moccasins adorned with silver buttons.
Stephanie smiled a thank you as Leonida took her arm and led her over to the fireplace, offering her a comfortable, cushioned hand-hewn chair. She eased into the chair and, as she looked around her, found the interior of the hogan hardly any different from the cabins of other settlers.
The log walls were mellow with flickering light from the great rock and clay fireplace. A stew pot hung over the coals on an iron arm in the fireplace. More food simmered on a huge, black cookstove. The aroma of cabbage and beans wafted through the air from the pots. A pot of coffee sat on the edge of the hearth.
Stephanie could see that at least two more rooms led from the main living quarters and surmised those were bedrooms. She had to wonder if one of those bedrooms belonged to Runner but doubted it. He seemed too independent to sleep under the same roof as his parents.