Free Indiana Wild (Spirit Pass Book 1) by S. E. Smith Page A

nodding to where Chester and Tweed lay sleeping by the bed. “Besides, I just don’t think you are that kind of guy. I enjoyed your company today, not to mention all of your help. And while I think you are very handsome, I just don’t get that ‘feeling’ with you. Not like…” Indy’s voice trailed off as she thought of Jonathan and his kiss. She had definitely gotten a ‘feeling’ from that. She was honest enough with herself to admit she had been dreaming about kissing him from the first time she saw him out on the range.
    “ As you do with the one called Jonathan?” Maikoda finished with a mischievous smile.
    Blushing, Indy waved her hand to the bowl in front of him. “Oh, shut up,” she muttered as she blew on her food to cool it so she could eat.
    “ You are different from women here. I would like to find a woman such as you,” Maikoda said quietly. “I like your strength. I like how you talk with me about different things. I like how you look,” he added with another smile.
    Indy laughed. “You would like my friend Aleaha. She is absolutely gorgeous, a great listener, and the sweetest person in the world,” she teased.
    Maikoda looked up in interest. “Who is this Aleaha? She lives near here?”
    Indy paused a moment trying to think. She figured it wouldn’t matter if she told him about Sam and his kids, especially Aleaha. After all, she would be gone tomorrow morning as soon as she collected her pay for the past four weeks.
    “Aleaha is Sam and Claire Whitewater’s daughter. Sam is a full Lakota Indian and a medicine man of his tribe. They have six kids, four boys and two girls. The girls are twins. Anyway, Aleaha has been studying to be a doctor. She’s doing her residency in Billings right now and should be done by this fall so she can move back home to set up her own practice. She’s really smart. I have a picture of her if you would like to see her,” Indy said getting up to go to her saddle bag where her iPod was. She had all kinds of pictures on it.
    Indy turned and looked at Maikoda, holding the iPod against her chest and biting her lip as she carefully studied him. “Listen, I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone you saw me, except of course Aleaha and Sam. I have some men looking for me I would just as soon not see again for a while. I won’t ask you to lie. It would just be helpful not to say anything if you can,” Indy asked nervously looking into Maikoda’s eyes to see how he was taking her odd request.
    “ I will protect you with my life, little sister. You have no need to worry,” Maikoda promised sensing it was very important to her.
    Indy smiled her thanks before pulling her chair around so it was next to Maikoda. “Okay, this is Sam and his wife Claire. This next one is Aleaha and her new pickup truck. She was so excited when she got it.” Indy went through the pictures explaining each one of them unaware of Maikoda’s reaction.
    Maikoda looked at the small shiny box in Indy’s hand in wonder. What type of magic was this? He wondered silently. He had never seen images of people so clear before. It was almost like the people had been captured within the thin, silver and black box. When Indy laughed at one picture showing her, Aleaha and a group of boys standing next to a pool of clear water in nothing but small pieces of material, Maikoda couldn’t contain his growl of disapproval.
    Indy looked up startled. “What’s wrong?” She asked startled.
    “ Who are these other males who would see you and Aleaha with so little clothing on?” Maikoda growled in anger.
    Laughing, Indy replied with a shake of her head. “It’s okay. Those are Aleaha’s older brothers. We had gone to one of Taylor’s rodeos down in Texas. This was taken at the hotel. It was a fun trip,” she explained looking at her adopted family with affection.
    “ All those males are her brothers?” Maikoda asked in relief.
    “ Yes. Don’t worry. Aleaha and her sister Allie can more