When Passion Calls

"I see no one," Red Raven said, leaning closer to Shane. "It is safe. Let us do it now."

Shane nodded and ran around behind the wigwams that were in his path. His eyes glittering with hate, he moved with the steps of a panther to the back of Gray Falcon's wigwam. Stopping to get his breath, he listened for any movements within. There were none. He smiled at Red Raven and nodded.

"Remember, take only the pelts that were given Gray Falcon in trade," Shane whispered. "He must understand why they are gone!"

"Ay-uh," Red Raven whispered back.

Together, they circled around to the front of the

wigwam. Shane held his breath as he lifted the buckskin entrance flap and peered inside. His heart lurched when he discovered that Gray Falcon was not alone. Sleeping on his pallet of furs alongside him was Blue Blossom, a dear friend of Cedar Maid's. The chief had chosen her to be his woman! Surely she did not lie with him from her own choosing. She must have hate in her heart for what he had forced upon Cedar Maid! If Blue Blossom knew that Cedar Maid was dead, she would not hesitate to take revenge.

Shane and Red Raven exchanged quick glances, then Shane stepped inside and moved stealthily around the two sleeping forms. From the glow of the orange, sunken coals in the fire space Shane could see well enough around the inside of the wigwam. He smiled at Red Raven when they both spied the pile of bear pelts at the same time.

Together they went and

gathered the pelts in their arms and turned to leave but both stopped, alarmed, when they discovered two dark eyes watching them. Blue Blossom had awakened and was leaning up on an elbow, looking from Shane to Red Raven, then back to Shane again.

Shane moved slowly toward her, his heart pounding against his ribs as her eyes followed him. When he reached her, he knelt down onto a knee and leaned down into her face. "This I do for Cedar Maid," he whispered.

A gleam appeared in Blue Blossom's eyes as she smiled up at Shane. She reached a gentle hand to his cheek. "Wee-weebhurry and be safe," she whispered.

Shane took her hand and kissed its palm, his eyes wavering, for he did not have the courage to tell her about Cedar Maid's fate. It was enough that he and Red Raven were having to carry such a sad burden around inside their hearts.

"Mee-gway-chee-wahn-dum," he whispered in Chippewa even though he had sworn not to use their language again. But Blue Blossom spoke nothing but Chippewa. He had no choice but to converse with her in her own language. "Thank you."

Red Raven moved past Shane. Shane followed closely behind him. They broke into a run and then spilled the pelts from their arms and fell to the ground panting beside the stolen horses.

"It is done!" Shane said, his voice filled with a fierce exultation. "How easy it was! My blood is on fire with victory!"

Red Raven picked up one of the bear pelts and stroked its silken fur. "Do you realize, Shane, that Gray Falcon saw more worth in these pelts than he did in Cedar Maid?" he said, his voice drawn. "Perhaps our revenge tonight is not enough!"

Shane's eyes were hard. "For tonight it is enough," he said, moving back to his feet. "I made a promise to my woman and I must be sure and keep it. I feel that she already doubts me too much."

Red Raven rose to his feet. "Your love for her is strong?" he asked, placing an arm around Shane's shoulder.

"Yes, my love for her is as strong as the marriage

of the stars to the heavens," Shane said, looking to the sky. "And our love will be as everlasting."

The aroma of bacon and eggs wafted across the table to Melanie, yet all that she could eat was a piece of buttered toast. She watched Terrance shovel the food into his mouth, glad that he had not had a drink for a full day and night now. He had been spending most of his time with the cowhands, branding the new shipment of longhorns.

Or had he stayed around the farm just to keep an eye on her? To see if Shane did return? She knew he would never stop gloating if Shane was gone for good.

Terrance looked across the table at Melanie. "So? What do you have planned for today?" he asked, sopping up the last of the milk gravy from his plate with a biscuit. His eyes lowered, seeing her smart, fitted travel suit. "You're dressed for shopping in St. Paul. Am I right? What are you going to do? Buy yourself a whole new wardrobe to get your mind off Shane's deserting you?"

Melanie's eyes filled with sudden fire. "I'll have you know I am not going into town for myself," she said.

"Then pray tell, who are you going for?" Terrance said, poking the remainder of his gravied biscuit in his mouth. He smiled as he chewed. "Are you going to buy something for your dear brother? Do you think my wardrobe needs to be updated, too?"

Melanie pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. She leaned down, placing the palms of her hands on the table, and talked into Terrance's face. "No, it's not your wardrobe or mine that I'm going to update," she said in a silken purr. "It's Shane's. I'm going to go and pick up the clothes that he was fitted for the other day. They were supposed to be ready today."

Terrance's face flushed with a sudden anger. He slammed his fork down on his plate and glared up at Melanie. "You just won't give up on him, will you?" he snarled. "He's been gone a full day and night now. Do you honestly think he's going to come sniffing at your doorstep again? No. I think not."

Melanie straightened her back and went and looked out the window, toward the butte, where she had first seen Shane. "Yes, he's been gone a full day and night," she murmured. "And if his calculations were right, he'll be gone another full day. I expect him to arrive sometime tonight, probably at dusk."

Terrance rushed from his chair and gestured wildly with his hand. "You think you've got it all figured out, don't you?" he raved, not stopping to hear her answer.

Melanie continued to look at the butte in the distance. "I certainly hope so," she whispered. "Oh, God, I hope so."