White Vengeance
Page 23
“There is my uncle. He’s a chief, and he’s going to marry us.” They would also be married when they got back to Pheasant Gully, so there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that they were well and truly man and wife.
She added, “My sister is the one with red hair.”
“Would never have guessed,” Tyler said dryly.
Renny swatted him playfully. “Down over there is my Uncle Jeremy and his wife, Dove.” She sighed with contentment as she eyed a large group of children standing directly below. Her own brothers and sisters stood among them, their red heads standing out like copper pennies.
“And those are all my cousins,” she said. The children ranged in age from ten down to newborn, and she had no idea who belonged to whom at this point. Shades of hair ranged from reddish brown to the blackest black, showing the mixed heritage of the family.
Renny turned and headed for the ladder.
“Who are all the rest?” Tyler asked as he followed.
Renny glanced up at him. “Family,” was her reply. Her extended family and friends.
“Hurry up,” she called as she jumped the rest of the way down. Without waiting for him, she ran out, right into her sister’s outstretched arms.
The two women laughed and hugged. It had been years since Renny had seen Emma and the rest of her Sioux family.
“Renny. It’s so good to see you!”
Renny didn’t want to let go, she’d missed her sister so much, but she finally stepped back—and found Tyler there, her rock, her anchor, her love.
“I have someone I’d like you to meet,” Emma said. She turned to her husband and accepted a tiny bundle from him. “This is our newest daughter.” She placed the sleeping newborn in Renny’s arms.
“Oh, Emma!” Renny said softly as she stared down at her newest niece. “She’s beautiful.” The infant’s hair was thick and soft. It was a reddish blond, and Renny fingered a blond curl. “It’s almost like our grandmother’s.”
Emma leaned against her husband. “That’s why we’re calling her White Star. After Striking Thunder’s mother, and your mother.”
Renny’s eyes filled with tears as she stared down at the infant. Never in the presence of The People would White Wind or Star Dreamer’s name be said aloud.
As Renny held the tiny, helpless infant, she asked herself if life got better than this. Watching the baby’s eyes blink sleepily, and the small, round, rosebud mouth make sucking movements, she didn’t think so.
Warm hands closed over her shoulders. She looked at Tyler, saw his misty-eyed look. There was also an intense look of yearning. She turned and placed the infant into his large hands.
Suddenly, seeing his big, strong hands cradling the baby so gently made Renny cry. He glanced down at her. In his eyes, she saw his heart’s desire, and she knew he was thinking of Gracie, and remembering the love he’d given to his baby sister and how cruel Fate had been in taking her from him.
“I want to give you a daughter,” Renny whispered.
“We have time,” Tyler replied. “I don’t want to rush you. I can wait.”
Renny grinned and took the baby back, needing to hold the tiny infant. “What if I cannot?”
Uncaring of their audience, Tyler pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “Then we will have a child right away.”
Renny handed White Star back to Emma. She grinned and wrapped Tyler’s arms around herself, bringing his palm down over her abdomen. Then she admitted, “Yes, we will have a child. And sooner than either of us planned.”
Cheers went up all around them. Tyler’s shocked cry of pleasure was drowned out. Striking Thunder ushered his children and his many nephews and nieces away. “Let’s get this wedding started,” he cried.
Hours later, in the low afternoon sunlight, Renny and Tyler stood facing each other as Chief Striking Thunder wound ribbons over their hands, binding them forever to one another. As the couple turned to face their family and friends as man and wife, Renny’s earlier question returned.
Did it get better than this?
The answer was no. There were no guarantees in life. There would always be death and sickness and other tragedies, but there would always be love too. Those who loved her, and those she loved. As long as she had love, she had all she needed.
Her hand crept down to where new life grew. Was it a son or a daughter? She smiled. It didn’t matter to her. The child was a gift. It was a sign that life went on, that light followed darkness around the wheel of life.
Tyler leaned down. “I love you, Renny.”
She leaned into him. “I love you, Tyler. Forever.”
“Promise?” His breath was warm on her cheek.
“Promise.” She enjoyed a quick kiss before her family gave a round of cheers and descended upon them.
* * * * *
Looking for more romance in the untamed West? Check out these additional titles from Susan Edwards’ bestselling White series, available now.
White Dawn (Book 1 of 12)
White Dusk (Book 2 of 12)
White Shadows (Book 3 of 12)
White Wind (Book 4 of 12)
White Wolf (Book 5 of 12)
White Nights (Book 6 of 12)
White Flame (Book 7 of 12)
White Dreams (Book 8 of 12)
White Dove (Book 9 of 12)
White Deception (Book 10 of 12)
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About the Author
Native American/Western romance writer Susan Edwards is the author of the popular White Series. She was nominated for the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Western Historical and the Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is very pleased to be able to offer her series in digital format. Susan is working on an idea for a new White book, a reunion of characters. She is also working on developing a new series, one that she is very excited about. Check her website, www.susanedwards.com, for current news.
Susan lives in Central California with her husband and a houseful of cats, including two rescue kittens who stole her heart. Her other passion is gardening. Through her love of all things Native American, she has designed a twenty-six-foot medicine wheel garden and has “broken ground.” It is a big project but one that she loves. You can follow her progress on her website. Susan also loves to knit and join her husband for hikes in the hills when it isn’t too hot outside.
You can follow Susan at her various social media outlets:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/susanedwardsauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/susan_edwards
Blog: http://www.susanedwardsauthor.blogspot.com
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ISBN: 9781426893643
Copyright © 2012 by Susan Edwards
Previously published by Leisure Books
Copyright © 2006 by Susan Edwards
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ereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
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