She found him lying beneath a tree, his eyes closed. The dun stood beside him, grazing peacefully on the sparse yellow grass. The stallion's head went up as he scented Loralee's mare and he whickered softly. A moment later, Zuniga sat up, his eyes wary as the sound of hoofbeats reached his ears. He relaxed visibly when he saw it was Loralee and the baby.
"Shad!" Dismounting, she placed the squalling child on the ground, then threw herself into Zuniga's arms, her eyes searching his face. "Are you all right?"
"I am fine, Loralee. Honest."
"Oh, Shad." She touched the bloodstained cloths tied around his left shoulder and right forearm. "Lord, I never knew anyone who got himself shot up as much as you do."
"I am all right." He touched his wounded shoulder with his fingertips. "The bullet went clean through. And this," he gestured at the bloody rag tied around his forearm. "It is just a scratch. Hey," he chided softly, "it is all over now. Do not cry."
"I can't help it," she wailed, and burst into tears. He was so dear, and she had come so close to losing him forever. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as if she would never let him go.
Zuniga stroked her hair, loving the feel of it in his hands, the way it always smelled faintly of lavender. Holding her close put a strain on his wounded shoulder, but he would not have let her go for anything in the world. He glanced at his son and saw that the child had cried itself to sleep.
"What happened?" Loralee asked when her tears subsided. "Why did Mike change his mind?"
Zuniga shrugged. "Who can say? Perhaps he realized that killing me would not really solve anything. He loves you, Loralee."
"I know."
Zuniga smiled wryly. "You cannot pick and choose the people you love," he murmured. "It just happens."
Loralee grinned as Zuniga repeated the words she had once said to him.
"I love you, Loralee," Shad said fervently. "I guess I have loved you ever since the first time I saw you hanging up that load of wash."
"And I love you. So much."
"I know, but will you be happy spending the rest of your life with a man like me?" He shook his head ruefully. "I have no money. I have no home to offer you. I am wanted by the law."
"I have a little money," Loralee replied softly. "And I'll make you a home wherever you wish." She kissed him on the cheek, then let her lips wander to his nose and eyes and chin before returning to his mouth. They kissed for a long time "We could go to California," Shad said, thinking aloud. "A man I know there offered me a job a long time ago. He said the offer was good any time."
"What kind of job?"
"As a cowboy," Zuniga answered gravely, then burst out laughing.
Loralee laughed, too, her eyes shining with happiness. "I'd love to go to California," she said enthusiastically. "I've always wanted to see Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco,"
"I think you would go anywhere I asked," Shad mused.
"Anywhere."
Loralee's smile was radiant as Zuniga took her into his arms once more. "We'd better get started," she suggested, then shuddered with pleasure as Zuniga's hand began to stroke her thigh in a lingering caress.
"Tomorrow," he said huskily.
"Tomorrow!" Loralee exclaimed. "Why not now?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she waited for his answer.
"You know why not now," Zuniga murmured, and Loralee willingly surrendered to the touch of his hands and lips as they began to work their familiar magic on her willing flesh.
Tomorrow they would start for California. Shad would get a job and they would build a home and a life together.
Tomorrow.
But for now, she wanted only to bask in his love, to hear his voice, husky with longing as he whispered, "I love you, Loralee, for now and evermore."
I never intended to be a published author, so it's always a thrill to see one of my books on the shelf. When I started writing, it was for my own pleasure. Had it not been for a friend, I might still be writing in longhand and storing my manuscripts under the bed!
I've loved Indians forever. I think my first crush was Eddie Little Sky from Disneyland, whom I saw when I was twelve. As I grew older, I developed a deep admiration for Native American customs and beliefs. Crazy Horse and Cochise were my idols, so it seemed natural that my heroes would be warriors who were tall, dark, handsome, courageous, gentle and tender, strong and sexy.
I love when my readers ask if I'm Native American. For me, that's the highest compliment!
Love Forevermore Page 27