Wild Embrace

“Who can explain the wonders of the body when in love?” Strong Heart said hoarsely, leaning over to kiss the pink tip of one of her breasts. “Just accept it. Just enjoy it.”

“I do love you so,” Elizabeth said, snuggling closer to him. Then she gazed up at him and smiled. “Do you think it’s time we ate something, then went on to your village?”

Strong Heart smiled back at her and nodded. “Ah-hah, it is time,” he said, then grabbed her more tightly into his arms and kissed her heatedly, hungrily.

“But first, let us make love again,” he whispered to her. “Then, my la-daila. I shall give you dry clothes to wear for the rest of the journey. It will not be any that you are used to. You will wear one of my buckskin outfits.”

She nodded her approval, then lost herself in sensual frenzy again as he lowered himself onto her and began moving, loving her slowly and leisurely this time.

Chapter 12

And now on the sky I look,

And my heart grows full of weeping.

—MRS. CRAWFORD

Disgruntled, and his clothes snug after shrinking from riding in the rain, Earl stomped into his house, slamming the large oak door behind him.

Dropping his saddlebags to the floor, he stared down the long corridor that led to the grand staircase, then at the doors which led from the corridor to the other rooms on the lower floor, anxious to find Elizabeth. Had she behaved while he had been gone? The long ride into the wilderness away from her had made him realize just what she meant to him. He had sworn to himself that he would pay more attention to her—make her feel more loved, more wanted. He had lost a wife due to his business concerns. He did not want to lose his daughter’s love, as well.

“Elizabeth!” he shouted, smoothing his hands through his golden hair as he began walking down the corridor, toward the staircase, thinking that perhaps she was in her room this time of day, napping or sewing. “Baby, I’m home. Elizabeth, do you hear me? I’m home.”

When he got to the foot of the staircase, he heard footsteps above him. He smiled and looked up, expecting Elizabeth to be there, glad to see him home safe and sound.

But his smile quickly faded and his mouth gaped open when he did not find Elizabeth there. Instead, a young lady—a total stranger—stood at the head of the staircase, looking down at him with an awkward smile.

Then Frannie stepped to this stranger’s side, herself looking no less nervous as she twisted and untwisted the strings of her lace-trimmed apron as she peered down at him, her eyes wide.

“Frannie, who is that young lady and where is Elizabeth?” Earl demanded. When Frannie did not answer immediately, he began to feel unnerved.

He glanced from the young lady, back to Frannie, then doubled his fists at his sides. “By God, Frannie, explain this lady’s presence here. Tell me why Elizabeth is not here to greet me,” he said between clenched teeth. “If you have allowed my daughter to leave this house unescorted, so help me, Frannie, you may have to swim all the way back to San Francisco, for I doubt if I would be able to tolerate such foolery from you.”

Frannie glanced at Maysie, then with a pounding heart she looked back down at

Earl. “This here is Maysie,” she said, her voice pitched high from fear. “Elizabeth . . . Elizabeth invited her to stay with us for a while. Our sweet Elizabeth done saved Maysie from drowning in the Sound.”

Earl’s eyebrows rose. “Drowning?” he said with a gasp. “Elizabeth risked her life for a total stranger? How, Frannie? When?”

Frannie twisted her apron strings more as she cast her eyes to the floor, fearing to tell him the whole truth. What she had told him already had condemned her.

Earl stomped up the stairs and when he reached the second-floor landing, he towered over Frannie and glowered at her. “So help me, Frannie, if you don’t tell me what this is all about, I’ll horsewhip you,” he said, his voice edged with anger and frustration.

He glanced toward Elizabeth’s door. It was open and he could see that she was not there.

Then he gave Frannie an uneasy look. “Damn it, Frannie, where is Elizabeth?” he half shouted.

Tears streamed in silver rivulets down Frannie’s dark face. She looked slowly back up at Earl. “Massa’ Easton, she’s gone,” she sobbed. “After Maysie here told Elizabeth about the poor women locked up in that prison in Seattle, Elizabeth, with her big heart an’ all, she done take books and fruit to them women.”

His shock was so keen, Earl had to reach for the bannister to steady himself. He clutched it, speechless for a moment. Then he forced himself not to shout at Frannie again. Right now all that was important was to get answers—answers about his beloved daughter. A frantic, hysterical Frannie would not be able to help.

He placed a trembling hand gently on Frannie’s thick shoulder. “Hush up your crying,” he said. “I’m not going to ship you off. I’m sorry I frightened you. Now tell me how long Elizabeth has been gone.”

Frannie burst into loud wails, shaking her head frantically. “For too long, Massa’ Easton,” she cried, now looking pitifully up at Earl. “Too long. She left yesterday mornin’ and hasn’t returned. I sent Everett to look for her. He didn’t find her. When he went to the sheriff to see if he’d seen her, the sheriff made no sense. He’d been hit over the head earlier by someone who helped turn the Indian loose from the prison. He was still not talking right when Everett asked him about Elizabeth. Seems no one knows about her, Massa’ Easton. Oh, lordy, lordy, what has become of our Elizabeth?”

Earl’s face twisted into a grimace, frightened by Frannie’s words. There had been an escape at the prison, and the sheriff had been injured during it. If Elizabeth had been there at the time of the escape....

“God,” he said beneath his breath, panic filling him. He began running down the stairs. “I’m going to Seattle to find Elizabeth. I’ve got to. Surely someone’s seen her!”