When Passion Calls

If so, she would never trust a man again. She would not even want to. He was her life.

Only he!

Shane rose to his feet, carrying Cedar Maid. "Melanie, you must return home," he said flatly, his voice cold and unfeeling as he gazed down at her. "I shall follow later."

"But how can I be sure?" she said, her voice drawn. "Shane, listen to me! You could die while trying to make things right for a woman who is already dead! I am alive, Shane. Alive! Please go home with me."

"You know that I can't," Shane said, his eyes holding hers. "Cedar Maid's death must be

avenged. Now that is all that I will say to you about it. Go home?

"No," Melanie said, lifting her chin stubbornly. "I will go with you. I can help you steal the horses. I am skilled with horses. You know that I am!"

"I cannot allow it, Melanie," Shane said, impatience thick in his words. "You were told not to follow earlier and you chose to disobey me. But now it is different. You are right. What I have chosen to do has a measure of danger in it. If I cannot achieve this revenge, I would not want to think it is because you got in the way. Do you understand now why you must do as you are told?"

Melanie stared up at him unblinkingly, knowing that this time she had no choice but to do as he said. It was true that more than likely she would get in the way. And what of Terrance? Once he discovered her gone for much longer than usual, he would come looking for her. He might even bring the whole city of St. Paul to look for her!

There were more dangers here than she even wanted to think about.

"I'll do as you ask," she said, trembling. "But I shall not rest until I see you've returned home safely, Shane. Please make it soon."

"One sunset will pass and then I will return," Shane said, sighing heavily.

"I only hope that you are sincere," Melanie said, then rushed to her horse and jerked her reins from the tree limb. She pulled herself up onto the horse and wheeled it around. For a moment, she gazed down at the lifeless form in Shane's arm,

feeling a deep remorse for the innocent woman who had been wronged.

She then looked up and let her eyes lock with Shane's. A cold rush of fear soared through her, for she was not seeing anything akin to what she usually saw in Shane's eyes when he looked at her.

Had Cedar Maid's death changed everything, forever?

Melanie turned her eyes away, swallowing back the urge to cry. She squared her shoulders and thrust her knees hard into her horse's side. "Sugar, take me home," she

whispered.

She looked to the heavens and said a soft prayer for Shane.

Chapter Fourteen

Moonlight spiraled through the dining room window, silvering the floor at Melanie's feet. Seated at a long dining table, a chandelier with melting, tapered candles above it, Melanie only picked at her food. She stared down at her plate filled with tempting morsels, but too many doubts and fears were getting in the way of a healthy appetite.

She couldn't get Shane off her mind, nor the Indian maiden he had held in his arms as he mourned over her! When she recalled Shane's wails, like those of an Indian in torment, she couldn't stop the jealousy that stung her heart.

Had he lived with the Indians too long? Was there truly a chance that he could change? If he did return to his farm, could he ever forget his past and live for the present? For the future? Was Melanie truly going to be a part of that future?

And, oh, Lord, where was he at this moment? Was he safe? Or had he been caught stealing from the Chippewa chief?

"Sis, you've barely touched your food," Terrance said, startling Melanie's eyes upward. He ran a finger around the tightness of his ruffle-splashed collar, his gold brocade waistcoat picking up the glow of the candles. He poured more wine into his long-stemmed glass. "I know what you're thinking about and it's a waste of time."

Terrance smiled smugly at her as he lifted his glass in a mock salute. "It's plain and simple, Melanie. Shane is gone," he said, his slow smile tugging at his narrow black mustache. "In time you'll see that you're better off without him. He could never become one of us. He was a part of the wilderness for too long."

A slow burn was beginning deeply within Melanie. She placed her fork on her plate. Grabbing her linen napkin from her lap, she slammed it on the table, then shoved her chair back and rose angrily from it. "Terrance, Shane will return and he will fit in to his new life," she said, her eyes flashing angrily. "You may as well get used to the idea of his being around, brother dear, because I plan to be his wife!"

Afraid that she had just confessed to something that would never be, Melanie swung away from the table and left the dining room in a rush. Her low-bodiced green satin dress rustled voluptuously against her lacy petticoats as she hurried to the

parlor, away from Terrance's searching eyes. She went to a window and stared through the darkness at the forest. She had to believe in Shane and in his declaration of love for her. She had to believe that he would come out of this adventure tonight unharmed. He would return home! He must!

A strong hand on her wrist made Melanie's heart skip a beat. She winced as she was forced around to face Terrance. "What are you doing?" she asked, looking up at him. "Let me go, Terrance."