Wild Desire

That my strength faileth,

And wavers with the wind

As a ship saileth.

—ANONYMOUS (17th century)

After two full days of travel, Stephanie and Adam arrived at Canyon de Chelley. Stephanie dismounted, taking in the imposing height of the rosy-red cliff walls, the silence and signs of a long-lost people. Their ancient dwellings were carved right out of the towering cliffs, and built on ledges in the thousand-foot canyon walls.

Remembering Runner’s words about the Navaho gods, she knew she had found the old home of the spirits.

Stephanie was anxious to travel to the canyon floor and take a close-up view of the fabulous stone monuments and the imposing canyon walls, and also to take photographs of the rock paintings, which were said to show the original arrival of the Spaniards and their horses, never before seen by the Anasazi.

From her studies of this area, she recalled that although the Navaho liked the sheep and horses that the Spanish had brought, they had not liked the Spanish customs. The Spanish soldiers had fought the Indians. They had made prisoners of them and had used them as servants.

Adam was not as enthralled by the grandeur of the canyon. He was bone tired from the long journey. He wanted to get the photographs taken so that they could start on their return journey. He still had his own things to tend to. And he would not allow his sister, nor anyone else for that matter, to sidetrack him again.

“Adam, should we take the time to eat, or should I start right in taking the photographs?” Stephanie said, stepping up to the pack mule. Adam had already taken the tripod from the mule and was setting it up for her close to the edge of the canyon. She opened one saddlebag and removed her camera, and some plates.

“We can eat later,” Adam said in a low grumble. “Let’s get this over with, Stephanie. I want to get back to the train. I almost have things settled here, as best they can be settled. We can soon return to Wichita and go to the board meeting together to report on what we’ve both accomplished here.”

Stephanie’s fingers fumbled with the camera as she tried to place it on the tripod, now realizing that she still had to tell Adam about her marriage plans to Runner. She wanted to delay until she had no choice but to tell him that she wouldn’t be returning with him to Wichita. She didn’t want to have Adam arguing with her about her decision day in and day out before he left. She had made her mind up. Nobody would change it.

“Stephanie?” Adam said, leaning toward her. “Did you hear what I said? You will go into the board meeting with me and speak encouragingly about my town, won’t you? Or has Runner swayed you against everything I stand for? Progress, Stephanie. That’s what I stand for. The same as you. You wouldn’t be going to all of this trouble taking these photographs if you didn’t plan on giving them to the Santa Fe Railroad to use to lure people west on their railroad.”

“Don’t remind me about what I’m doing today, that I’m deceiving Runner,” Stephanie said, leaning over to focus her lenses. “If he ever finds out, he’ll surely hate me forever.”

She realized what she had said the minute it had slipped across her lips. She turned around and faced Adam with a stern look. “Don’t you use this against me,” she said flatly. “If you tell Runner that I came here, in order to turn him against me for your own selfish gain, I’d never forgive you, Adam. Do you understand?”

Adam smiled ruefully at her. Little did she know that Runner already hated her. But she would know—soon. By then, she would have no choice but to stay allied with her brother. If not, she would be alone in a vast land, where she was at the mercy of the train that had brought her there.

The engineers would either leave her there, or take her with them, at Adam’s command. They owed him. He had helped pay their gambling debts.

“Certainly, sis,” Adam said, placing his fists on his hips. “I understand.”

When Stephanie saw a strange, shadowy look in Adam’s eyes, she sighed and turned back to her camera, then felt that this might be the time to spring the surprise on Adam, after all. He would have two days’ travel back to the train to get over it.

Whereas, if she told him about her plans to marry Runner after they were at the train, there was no telling what he might do. She most certainly did not want to see him ride in a flurry into the Navaho compound. He already had enough cuts and bruises on his body. No need for him to give cause for others to be inflicted.

Stepping away from the camera, Stephanie turned to Adam. “Adam, I think it’s time I quit playing games with you,” she murmured. She saw his eyebrows rise and his jaw tighten. “Adam, I won’t be returning with you to Wichita. I plan to stay behind. I’m going to marry Runner.”

Adam took a shaky step away from her. Ashen, his eyes wide, he stared disbelievingly at her. “What did you say?” he gasped.

“I believe you heard me well enough,” Stephanie said, clasping her hands tightly behind her. “I am going to marry Runner, Adam. I love him. He loves me.”

Adam was aghast at the thought of what she was saying. And then a slow calm crept over him. He had to force himself not to smile smugly at her, for he knew that there would be no marriage ceremony between Runner and his sister. Adam had taken care of that by telling Runner the clever, calculated lie.

“So, you see, Adam,” Stephanie said, “everything is up to you now. You will have to go to the board meeting without me. And while there, I would like for you to take the photographs that I am going to take today. You must do this for me. I never want anyone to think that I didn’t earn what I was paid.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that for you,” Adam said in a growl.

Stephanie was puzzled by how he was taking the news about her marriage. She had expected him to shout at her. She had expected him to tell her that he would not allow it. Instead, he was taking it as calmly as if she told him that she was going to marry a rich millionaire from New York.

“Adam, you don’t care that I am going to marry Runner?” she said softly.

“You know that I do.”

“Then why aren’t you acting like it?”