Free Reckless Heart by Madeline Baker Page A

tempt me into marriage with your irresistible woman’s body?”
    “Yes,” I admitted happily, and hurled myself into his outstretched arms.
    “Do you think it was fair, to tempt me with such sweetness that I could not refuse?”
    “All is fair in love and war,” I said with a shrug.
    Shadow’s mouth turned down in a wry grin. “I will come for you tomorrow,” he promised.
    I couldn’t stop smiling as I slipped into my clothes. We were going to be married. Nothing could stop us now.
    Jubilant, I lifted my face for one more kiss. “‘Til tomorrow,” I whispered, and rode hard for home, aware of Shadow’s eyes on my back until I was out of sight.

Chapter Seven
     
    Monday was not a good day. I rose early and packed my clothes, wanting to be ready to leave the minute Shadow came for me.
    I looked around my room as I closed my valise. It was a nice room. The walls were whitewashed. Blue curtains hung at the window, and a matching spread covered the bed. A tall mahogany chest of drawers stood against one wall.
    It would be strange, living in a hide lodge instead of a house. I wondered what the Indians did for closets, and how I would manage to cook a whole meal over a firepit instead of on a wood stove.
    Yawning, I stared out the window. I had spent a sleepless night, wondering what my mother’s reaction was going to be when I told her I was going to marry Shadow with or without her blessing. I knew what my father’s reaction would be, and I was dreading it. But nothing they could say or do would dissuade me. I was Shadow’s woman now, and nothing could change that.
    Noon came and went, and still there was no sign of Shadow. Mother fixed my favorite meal—roast beef and potato salad—but I had no appetite and merely picked at my food. Pa muttered under his breath about good food going to waste, but Mother didn’t say a word, merely pursed her lips and looked worried.
    Shortly after lunch, Joshua rode up and insisted I go walking with him. I didn’t want to leave the trading post, but I couldn’t think of a plausible reason to refuse, so I went. I knew my mother was smiling happily as we left the house together.
    As we walked down the path to the river, I could not help but compare Joshua with Shadow. Joshua came off a poor second, I’m afraid. Oh, he was tall and handsome, and a nice boy, but he lacked that elusive animal-like magnetism that had first drawn me to Shadow. Josh was lean and fit, but Shadow was more so. Where Josh was shy and a bit reserved, Shadow exuded strength and self-confidence.
    There was just no comparison between the two, and when Joshua begged me to please reconsider his marriage proposal, I said “no” bluntly, hoping to close the subject once and for all.
    “There’s someone else, isn’t there,” Josh demanded, shoving his hands into his pockets.
    “Yes,” I admitted, wishing he would just shut up and go home.
    “It’s Orin, isn’t it?”
    “For goodness sakes, Josh, it isn’t Orin. I’ve told you that a hundred times. It’s Shadow!”
    I clapped my hand over my mouth, horrified to realize what I had let slip.
    “Shadow!” Joshua exclaimed. “You mean that Injun kid?”
    “He’s not a kid anymore,” I retorted. “He’s a man full grown. And I love him.”
    “I don’t believe it,” Josh said, shaking his head. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    “Well, I’m not. Now please go home and leave me alone.”
    “Does your father know? I can’t believe he’d approve of your carrying on with a red-ass nigger.”
    “Of course he doesn’t know,” I muttered, wishing I had kept my big mouth shut. “You won’t tell him? Promise?”
    “I won’t tell. But you had better think this over careful before you go off and do something you’ll likely regret. I…I love you, Hannah. I guess you know I’ll always be here if you need me.”
    “Thank you, Josh,” I said sincerely, and liked him better at that moment than I ever had before.
    “Come on—I’ll walk you