Savage Abandon

She was filled with sudden panic, fearing that the canary had flown away. If so, she doubted she would ever find her again.

“She’s gone,” Mia said, suddenly sobbing. “As we stepped from your tepee the sudden movement must have frightened her away.” She lowered her eyes in quiet despair. “I will never have her with me again. Never.”

Suddenly a streak of yel

low flashed before Mia’s eyes. To her amazement, Georgina swept downward from somewhere in the trees and suddenly landed on Mia’s arm.

When Mia saw Georgina’s bold black eyes gaze up into hers, she felt that it was a miracle, for she had never attempted to train the canary to come to her.

“Georgina,” Mia cried softly, as Wolf Hawk stood there, stunned at what had happened.

She looked quickly up at him. “This is my canary!” she said. “The bird I told you about. It’s a miracle, Wolf Hawk. Look. She is sitting right on my arm. She is looking at me with such trust!”

“My woman, it is said among my people that if a bird comes to the door and gives its life up there, someone will die, but if it comes to the door and lives, it is a good omen…someone who is ill will live. Mia, your bird’s appearance here proves that you will soon be completely well. I believe Shaman grandfather willed your bird here, as a blessing to you.”

“Truly?” Mia said, her eyes wide as she gazed into Wolf Hawk’s. “But how did he even know about her?”

“My grandfather knows all,” Wolf Hawk said, smiling. “Even about this bird you call a canary.”

“Your grandfather is a wonderful, blessed man,” Mia murmured. “It is such a miracle that Georgina is with me again.”

“Just as it is a miracle that you have appeared in my life when I needed a woman to be there,” Wolf Hawk said, causing Mia a sensual thrill.

He knew this was not the time to go further into how he felt about Mia. At any moment the bird might fly away again.

If so, his woman would be terribly distressed and he could not allow that. He wanted everything good for her.

“Let us go inside my lodge with your bird,” Wolf Hawk suggested, already carrying Mia through the entranceway.

He gently set her down on her feet, stunned when the bird still remained on her arm. At that moment it began warbling a beautiful, soft, sweet song.

“Do you hear her?” Mia whispered, just loud enough for Wolf Hawk to hear.

Then she thought of something else. She glanced up at Wolf Hawk.

“Her cage,” she said. “I need her cage. She will feel at home only when she is in her familiar surroundings.”

“I will go for her cage,” Wolf Hawk said, already walking toward the entranceway. “I will return soon with it.”

“Also her food,” Mia said, stopping him. “There is a small package of bird food that I had left close to the cage. You will notice it when you get there. Please bring it to me, too.”

Wolf Hawk nodded and started to leave again, but again her voice stopped him. “Thank you,” Mia murmured. “Oh, Wolf Hawk, thank you.”

“You rest while I am gone,” he said. He gazed at the bird. “And I shall close the entrance flap so that your bird cannot fly away.”

“I doubt that she will ever want to leave my side again,” Mia said, laughing softly as Georgina continued to sing and gaze trustingly into Mia’s eyes.

Nevertheless, Wolf Hawk closed the flap as he left. Minutes later he was on his horse, riding from the village.

Mia sat down on the pallet of furs with Georgina resting on the palm of her right hand. “You do not know what you have done for me by coming back today, my sweet bird,” she murmured. “I am at peace, truly at peace, for the first time since my father’s death. Now I feel as though I can allow myself to truly open up to my feelings for Wolf Hawk.”

She stretched out on the pelts while Georgina rested quietly beside her.

As Georgina closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep, Mia wondered just how much rest her canary had managed to get while out there all alone in the world where danger lurked everywhere for such a tiny creature.

“I am safe…you are safe…” Mia whispered, tears of pure happiness shining in her eyes.

Chapter Twenty