Wild Desire

“Trevor?”

Hearing the name of his youth being spoken by the white man made Runner jerk his eyes back to the man. Only people of his past knew the name that he had been given on the day of his birth.

He looked at the white man more closely and began seeing something familiar about him. This close, he could see the features of his boyhood friend—Adam.

“Adam?” Runner said, his voice low and measured.

“Runner, it is you,” Adam said, reaching over to give Runner a fierce, manly hug. “It’s really you.”

Runner returned the embrace, feeling awkward. He saw the woman as an enemy; he could feel no less for Adam. It was obvious that Adam was involved with the expansion of the railroad, or he would not have been there.

Across Adam’s shoulder, Runner looked at Stephanie again, finding it hard to continue labeling her as the enemy. He silently studied the gentle loveliness of her face and the breathtaking color of her hair and eyes.

Remembering again the differences in their beliefs where the railroad was concerned, he quickly shifted his eyes away from her and eased away from Adam.

“And Sage?” Adam said, leaning so that he could look around Runner. “It’s so good to see you again.”

Sage’s lips were pursed tightly. He refused to give this man of his past a greeting that would be the same as speaking with a forked tongue. Although he was happy to see the boy of his past now turned into a young man, he would not allow his happiness to show. Adam was bringing trouble to the Navaho. His presence on the train made that fact evident.

Adam’s eyes wavered. He looked clumsily over at Runner, then at Stephanie. “I would like to introduce my stepsister to you,” he said, motioning for Stephanie to move into view.

When she did, Adam took her hand. “This is Stephanie. Stephanie, you have heard me mention Runner and Sage to you often.” He motioned with his free hand first to Runner and then to Sage. “I am sure they are pleased to meet you.”

Runner nodded in acquiescence.

Sage sat stolidly quiet, offering no comment.

“I’m pleased to meet you both,” Stephanie murmured, blushing somewhat beneath Runner’s steady stare.

Sage moved his horse forward, then stopped. He looked over at Adam. “Your mother Sally,” he said. “She is well?”

Relieved that Sage was finally speaking, Adam’s eyes took on a lively sparkle. “My mother is quite well, thank you,” he said, relaxing somewhat. “Mother has been widowed twice but is now happy with her third husband, Stephanie’s father.”

“It is han-e-ga, good that she is well,” Sage said. “She was a good woman.”

“And your wife?” Adam said smoothly. “How is Leonida faring?”

“She is happy among the Navaho,” Sage said, his eyes taking on a dark glittering. “She is Navaho now. As is our son, Runner.”

“I can see that Runner has changed,” Adam said, raising an eyebrow as he roved his eyes over Runner. “A lot.”

Sage turned his gaze from Adam, shifting it to his son. He could see the instant attraction between Runner and the white woman. He was reminded of how quickly he had become enamored with a white woman, himself, all those years ago. Although Sage’s marriage had been blessed with happiness, he would much rather his son choose a Navaho bride.

If Runner married a white woman, his children would most certainly be white. If he married a Navaho, there was always a chance that the children would be at least part Navaho, which would be preferable since Runner would one day be the leader of the People.

He could not allow his son to fall in love with a woman who was aligned with a man who had returned to Arizona for all of the wrong reasons. It was most certainly not to renew acquaintances—there was no logic in why he would.

His gaze swept over the richness of Adam’s attire, stopping at the two diamond rings on his hands. This man was not guided by the heart. It was evident that he put too much faith in what money could buy. Sage could not help but feel that Adam was there only because of the railroad, and if so, he could not be made to feel welcome.

“Adam, what has brought you to Arizona?” Runner asked, guardedly watching Adam’s reaction. He knew the foolishness of asking the question that he already knew the answer to. As each moment passed, Runner suspected that his old friend had strong ties with the Santa Fe Railroad and was there for all of the wrong reasons.

Adam looked over his shoulder at the train, then slowly looked from Runner to Sage. He felt that it was important to talk to Runner alone, to explain about being responsible for this new Santa Fe spur and his ideas behind it. Sage had already shown his resentment by his cold behavior. He could instantly reject the idea. Adam wanted the chance to slowly persuade Runner into accepting everything. And then he could spring it on his father.

He turned glittering eyes back to Runner. “I’ve come to see my old friends,” Adam said, placing a hand on Runner’s shoulder. “And to escort my stepsister to this great land so that she can photograph it. She’s a photographer for the Santa Fe Railroad.”

Runner’s and Sage’s expressions became instantly cold and distant as they glowered at Adam and then Stephanie. Their thoughts were the same on people taking photographs of their People: it was exploitation of the worst variety.

Stephanie smiled awkwardly at Runner and Sage. Their reaction to the mention of her bein