Wild Desire

She drew her hair back and quickly twined it in and out between her fingers until one long braid hung down her back. She slun

g her holster around her waist and fastened it, patting the derringer as she walked toward the door.

Glancing down at her attire, she grimaced. She was growing tired of wearing the plain, dreadful skirts and the long-sleeved blouses. She hungered for something soft. The thought of wearing long, flowing velveteen skirts and matching blouses, like the Navaho women wore, made her smile. She would soon be wearing them, also.

“I’m going to marry Runner,” she murmured, ecstatic at the thought. “But I must take these last photographs,” she murmured, determinedly opening the door. She smiled again. “I have saved the best for last.”

Stepping out into the sweet, cool breeze of morning, Stephanie stopped before knocking on Adam’s door. The shade was still drawn. “He’s still asleep,” she whispered.

But why wouldn’t he be? she wondered. She had watched and waited for him, or Runner, past midnight. She had no idea when, after that, he may have arrived home. She wasn’t even sure that he would agree to escort her to Canyon de Chelley.

Without stopping to knock, knowing that Adam might need a shake or two to get him totally awake, Stephanie went on into his private car. She went determinedly from window to window and flipped the shades up, hoping that their racket would do the trick.

When even that didn’t awaken her brother, Stephanie went to his bed and stood over it. He was covered up with a blanket, from his head to his toes. He was sleeping so peacefully. He would hate her for waking him up, yet time was wasting. She had everything prepared for the journey, except her brother.

And no matter what argument he gave her when she asked him to escort her today. she would not take no for an answer. He had been given plenty of time to get his own personal affairs in order. Now it was time for him to help her with hers.

Bending over Adam, Stephanie placed a gentle hand to his shoulder and gave him a shake. “Adam?” she said, giving him another shake. “Wake up. I want you to go somewhere with me today. Adam? Wake up.”

Adam groaned. He winced when he moved even one muscle. He was quickly reminded of the beating that he had gotten the previous night. Only when he had been making love with Pure Blossom had he been able to forget the aches and pains inflicted by Runner.

He grimaced anew when he recalled the lies he had told the previous evening, first to Runner, and then to Pure Blossom. He regretted like hell for having to hurt Pure Blossom so deeply.

And as for the lie that he had told Runner about Stephanie . . .

“Adam, quit being so pokey this morning,” Stephanie said, interrupting his thoughts. She folded her arms impatiently across her chest. “I want you to go somewhere with me. Runner won’t take me to Canyon de Chelley. Will you? I can take some magnificent shots of the ancient writings. There are so many things to photograph there, Adam. Come on, get up. I have things ready. All you have to do is shave, eat, and then we can be on our way.”

“Canyon de Chelley?” Adam mumbled, and then his eyes lit up. He knew the length of time that it would take for them to get to and from Canyon de Chelley. That would at least postpone Stephanie’s discovery of what he had told Runner.

This would also get Stephanie away from Runner, so that he could not come and confront her with the lie that he had been told. Also, knowing how Runner felt about the sanctity of Canyon de Chelley, Stephanie going to photograph it would put the finishing touches on Runner’s feelings for her.

Runner would end up hating Stephanie, not loving her.

“Time is wasting, Adam,” Stephanie said, yanking the blanket away from him. In his satin, monogrammed pajamas, his back was to her. “Time to get up. Now.”

When Adam rolled over and turned his face up to her, Stephanie’s eyes widened and her throat felt suddenly dry. “Good Lord, Adam,” she gasped. “Your face!” She bent to her knees beside the bed and softly touched the bruises around his eye. “How did this happen? Oh, Adam, who gave you such a beating?”

Adam’s eyes wavered into hers. Then he brushed past her and got up. “If you want to leave soon, I’ll hurry and shave,” he said, running his fingers across his whiskers. He winced when even that small gesture caused pain. His jaws ached, as well. Each time he spoke it was with much effort.

Stephanie was not to be put off all that easily. She took Adam by an arm and turned him to face her again. “Tell me what happened,” she said. “You were with Runner last night. Please tell me that he’s not responsible for these bruises.”

With all of her heart and soul, she did not want to believe that Runner had so much anger locked within him that he could give Adam such a beating. When he was with her, he was such a gentle, caring man.

Yet she knew that Adam had away of antagonizing a person to his limits. She had seen it at the Santa Fe board meetings. His opinion was pushed upon others, sometimes to the point that brawls had ensued at the meetings. Perhaps Adam had pushed Runner past that limit, as well.

“You know how things can get at saloons,” Adam said, shrugging. “There was a brawl. Runner and I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The ‘Big Tent’ is known for their knock-down-drag-out brawls. Last night was one of the worst, to my estimation.”

“Then the fight was not between you and Runner?” Stephanie persisted, gasping anew when Adam slipped the top of his pajamas off and revealed the cuts and bruises on his chest.

Adam gave her a narrow look, knowing that one more lie must be added to his many, or he would not be able to get Stephanie away from here today. She would immediately demand answers and might even decide to go to Runner to try and set things straight.

The longer Runner had to sweat over losing Stephanie, the better, Adam decided to himself. The longer Runner condemned Stephanie inside his heart, the stronger the emotion would become.

Adam wanted like hell to keep his sister away from Runner. He saw Runner as a savage whose skin coloring mocked the man. This “White Indian” did not deserve a woman like Stephanie!

“Adam, your silence is frightening me,” Stephanie demanded. “Tell me. Was your fight with Runner?”

“Sis,” Adam said, taking her hands, “the whole damn place broke into a brawl. So quit worryin’ about Runner. All right?”