Free Silken Savage by Catherine Hart

lessening the distance between them.
    “The horse used to belong to Panther, as I do. He gave her to me,” Tanya managed to say.
    Now the two girls were face to face. The Indian girl launched herself at Tanya, arms flailing. “You lie! You were going to steal his horse and escape! Only a fool would give a horse to a slave!”
    “Panther is no fool, but
you
certainly are!” Tanya grated out. Warding off blows right and left, her temper finally snapped. “Enough is enough!” she shrieked, and threw her full weight against her slim opponent. Down they both went, wrestling and rolling in the tall grass, shrieking like banshees. For several minutes they fought, until Tanya managed to gain the advantage. Straddling the other girl, one knee firmly against her breastbone, Tanya held her to the ground, pinning her arms alongside her head.
    Heaving with the effort of their battle, Tanya repeated, “The horse is mine!” Her golden eyes flamed with anger.
    The Indian girl tried to buck her off and failed, her own dark eyes snapping. “You lie, white face!” she spat out.
    “Hardly ever, mud face!” Tanya retorted heatedly.
    “I’ll see you beaten for this,” came the threat.
    “I belong to Panther and am under his protection. No one beats me but him!”
    “I will tell him of this and he will give me permission,” the girl avowed.
    “You can try,” Tanya countered. Her captive had calmed by now, and Tanya slowly released her and stood.
    The young girl rose and launched herself at Tanya once again.
    “Oh, for pity’s sake!” Tanya grumbled, throwing the girl face-down on the ground and sitting on her. “Look, I am very busy. I don’t have time for this nonsense! I have a lot of work to do, and Panther will be expecting his meal. Surely you can find something better to do than harass me!”
    Whatever answer the girl was about to make was cut short as both spied a pair of moccasinned feet before them. Tanya’s startled gaze travelled up firm, dark legs, past the loincloth and broad chest to a familiar bronze face.
    Panther barely managed to hide a smile as he beheld Tanya’s bedraggled state. “What is the meaning of this, Wildcat?” he demanded calmly.
    Tanya remained seated on her victim’s back. “This girl refuses to believe me when I tell her you gave me the mare.”
    “So you decided to sit on her?” Panther’s look was incredulous.
    “No,” Tanya began, but now her silent combatant found her tongue and started squealing accusations non-stop, appealing her case to Panther.
    With a sigh, Tanya reluctantly released her. The girl immediately threw herself, weeping, into Panther’s arms. Deciding she didn’t stand a chance of getting a word in edgewise, Tanya turned and headed back to her tethered horse.
    “Wildcat!” Panther’s authoritative command halted her in her tracks.
    Tanya turned, and could scarcely believe the anger she saw blazing in his ebony eyes. She waited silently.
    “Who put the whip to your back?” he roared.
    “Your little friend there.” Tanya nodded at the girl in his arms.
    Panther pushed the girl from him. “Mountain Flower, who gave you permission to lash my woman?” he demanded.
    The girl’s lips quivered and her eyes widened in disbelief. “She is a slave! She was about to steal your horse and escape!”
    Panther’s eyes narrowed. “Did she not tell you I gave the mare to her?”
    “Yes, but I knew she lied.”
    “You would not hear the truth,” he insisted. “The horse is hers, and Wildcat is my woman. No one touches my woman or my horse unless I give permission.”
    Mountain Flower stiffened. “How was I to know you would take a white woman into your tipi?” Her face showed her distaste.
    “You know now. Do not let it happen again.”
    “Your woman is very arrogant, Panther. You should teach her better behavior,” she shot back.
    “This tops it,” Tanya muttered, bending to retrieve the forgotten whip. Stalking up to Mountain Flower, she stretched