Wild Desert Princess

by Deering, Debbie

  “Thanks, Miri. I think I will do just that. Wake me when we get there.” Chia crawled into the backseat and grabbed a pillow. She would only rest her eyes for a few minutes, she vowed.

  Miri waited until they were well on their way and she was sure Chia was sound asleep. “Anya, I am worried about her. She is so pale and she can’t keep anything down.” She bit her lip and peered at Chia through the rear view mirror.

  “So am I, Miri. She’s so much weaker and tired than she should be. I’m afraid if she doesn’t improve soon, she will have to go back to the city so Dr. Khan can monitor her.”

  “I truly hope not. At least until she feels she can deal with Jahan. Losing her friendship after all she’s done for me is not something I wish to contemplate.”

  “Perhaps Jahan has changed his views and will be more willing to accept Chia the way she is.” Anya turned and watched Chia as she slept, seeing clearly the dark circles under her long auburn lashes.

  “Humph. He is an arrogant man. I doubt he’s even had time to worry about it with all the negotiations in the mountains. I know Chia misses him. Sometimes I can see the longing in her eyes or hear the sadness in her voice.”

  “She misses him and she could really use his support now. She’s having a rough start to her pregnancy and could use someone to help shoulder some of the stress. I hope if I ever marry, my husband is there for me.”

  Miri’s face tightened with determination. “One thing for sure. Ben will be by my side or we won’t be having more than one child.”

  “You are very sure of that. What if he feels differently?” Anya well remembered her fiancés decree. When they were married she would stop being a doctor and would stay at home and have the children. He didn’t plan on curtailing any of his business or his trips overseas. Giving birth was a woman’s role in life. What a pompous ass! For the first time in months she didn’t feel the agonizing pain from thinking about him. In fact she felt an overwhelming sense of relief that she was free to enjoy Jamal’s attentions.

  “Anya don’t judge all men by that idiot you were engaged to. I swear I think that man was a throw back or something. Not all men are so bad. Trust me.”

  “I’m not so sure, Miri. Just look at the way Jahan has treated Chia, and even Jamal tried to tell me what I could or couldn’t wear. I think it is one of those man things.”

  Anya looked unconvinced and Miri stifled a giggle. “I would like to explore Ben’s man thing,” she joked, trying to lighten the tense mood in the Jeep.

  Miri burst out laughing before she could stop herself. Worried, she glanced in the back and frowned when Chia didn’t move.

  “Mm, Jamal, too,” Anya murmured softly.

  Chapter Twenty

  Chia came awake with a start as the Jeep swerved and bounced over the narrow track. “What’s wrong?” She peered at the group of men chasing them on horseback and gasped. “Who are they?”

  Anya turned a frightened look to her, her eyes wide in her pale face. “They are from the fanatics who want Prince Jahan to fail. “Hang on, Chia,” she warned.

  Miri pressed down on the gas and the Jeep shot forward. “We are almost back to the camp. Call my father, Anya.”

  Anya quickly called Miri’s father and informed him of their predicament. “He said to keep coming, his men are on the way.”

  “Good. These men dare much to accost us so on our own land.” Miri bit her lip in concentration, determined to elude their pursuers until her father could send help.

  Suddenly the loud thrum of helicopter rotors could be heard. Chia thought she heard the sound of gunfire and cringed. Jahan would never forgive her if she got shot. A hysterical giggle bubbled in her throat. She had to swallow to hold it in.

  In minutes Miri pulled up in front of their camp and ushered Chia away. Her father was waiting and led the women to his jet. “You must go to the city. It is not safe for you here,” he told them, his leathery face creased with worry.

  “Be safe my daughter,” he urged and crushed Miri to his chest for a brief moment before he shut them in the interior of the plane and hurried away.

  “What about your mother?” Chia asked as they took to the air, her stomach clenching with cramps.

  “She will not leave his side and he no longer battles with her over at,” Miri said, tears in her eyes.

  “Don’t worry, Miri, they will be fine. Your father has more than enough men. Soon they will have these others captured.” Anya reassured her friend.

  “Well, I guess I’m going home whether I’m ready to or not,” Chia whispered.

  “You do not have to go if you’re not ready. I have an apartment large enough for you to stay with me if you choose.” Anya offered quietly, not liking the haunted look in Chia’s eyes.

  “Thank you, Anya.” Chia’s heart slowed its frantic pounding. She had dreaded having to go to Jahan’s or her parents. She wasn’t ready yet, she figured Jahan would have someone watching for her.

  In mere moments, they were back in the city. Chia was stunned at how easily they landed and then left the airstrip in Miri’s car. “I wonder why Jahan isn’t monitoring the airstrip?” She hated to admit it, but it bothered her that he had given up on her so soon.

  “He is probably not worried about incoming planes, honey. Only those leaving.” Miri cast her and knowing look and drove swiftly to on Anya’s lush apartment. “Wow! This is wonderful.”

  “Thank you. I fell in love with it.” Anya’s eyes shone with pleasure. She didn’t get to spend nearly enough time at her home and when she was finally able to come back she felt safe.

  “Are you going to your family’s home, Miri?” Chia prayed her friend’s family was safe.

  “Yes, I will call as soon as I know anything. Take care, Chia. I won’t tell Jahan where you are, but Jamal will want to know where Anya is and I’m not sure we can keep it a secret after the attack.”

  “You done enough, Miri. Please don’t worry about it. If Jahan finds me I will just have to deal with him then.” Chia wasn’t ready but she could feel herself becoming tired of all the running.

  Miri left then and Anya led Chia into her home. A blend of modern and traditional, it was exquisite. “Oh, Anya, it is wonderful, I love it.”

  “Thank you. Now let’s get you settled and I will go out and get you something to wear.” Anya showed Chia to her guest bedroom and left her soaking in the tub as she left to pick up a few things.

  While she was out, she stopped by the hospital to speak with Dr. Khan. When she was settled in his office she began. “I just don’t know. She is suffering with morning sickness, but she has little energy. The positive thing is her our blood pressure. It has remained at an acceptable level.”

  “Try to get her to come in for an exam tomorrow. Jahan’s gone to the mountains for his meeting and she shouldn’t have to worry about him finding her. We may have to put her on bed rest and see how she’s doing in a few weeks.” Dr. Khan saw the beautiful young woman out with a sigh.

  Anya left Dr. Khan with a renewed sense of duty. Having another doctor share her concerns eased her burden. She drove to Chia’s apartment and packed a couple of bags of clothes and toiletries. On the way back she stopped and stocked up on food. She wasn’t sure how long Chia might need to stay with her.

  By the time she arrived back at her home, it was nearly dinner time. She was starved and hoped Chia had enough of an appetite to try to eat something.

  After Anya left, Chia soaked in the tub for what seemed like hours. Her skin was wrinkled by the time she mustered the energy to pull herself up. Wrapping herself in one of Anya’s robes, she lay down on the bed and called her mother.

  For a moment she thought she might have gotten a reprieve and then her mother’s voice came on the line. “Hello?”

  “Mother,” Chia said her tone frigid.

  “Chia, baby. Where are you?” Her mother gushed.

  Chia frowned, her mother did not gush. “I’m safe Mother.” She could hear her mother sigh.


  “You are still upset.”

  “I am well beyond upset, Mother. I’m flat pissed and I’m not sure if I will ever be able to forgive you and Father.” Chia hardened her heart at her mother’s pained gasp.

  “Chia…”

  “No, I only called to tell you I am fine. If you want to pass it along to Jahan, fine. When I feel like coping with all of you, I will return. Good-bye.” Chia replaced ended the call before she could relent. She hated the distance between her parents and herself. Her heart ached. She had always felt their love.

  It made it much harder now that she knew they had betrothed her to Jahan when she was just a baby. It hadn’t been fair to her or to Jahan. No wonder he had hired a P. I. to watch her. She was surprised he hadn’t dragged her home personally.

  She wanted the kind of love her parents had experienced. At least until recently. Her mother had sounded miserable. Chia wondered if things had gotten any better between her parents.

  Out of the blue, she had the urge to hear Jahan’s deep voice. Before she could stop the impulse, she dialed him on his cell phone and waited breathlessly for him to answer. Her heart stuttered at his low, deep ‘hello’.

  “Jahan,” she whispered.

  “Chia, is that you?” Jahan sat up swiftly, wide awake at the sound of her voice.

  “I wanted to tell you that I am fine.” She waited for him to yell at her.

  “Honey, where are you? I’ve been going crazy with worry. Come home,” he beseeched, fighting the need to demand her return.

  “Not yet, Jahan. I’m not ready. I feel lost, betrayed,” she admitted, hoping he would at least try to understand.

  “Honey, please. We can get this all settled if you just come home.” He glanced at his watch, knowing he needed to keep her talking for a little while longer for his men to be able to track her location. Before he left the city, he had a team set up to monitor his cell number.

  “Jahan, I know you are trying to keep me talking until you can trace me. I just wanted to tell you that I am fine.” She hoped she would be forgiven for that little white lie. “And that I love you and hope we can work out our problems.”

  “Chia, love,” he began and cursed when she ended the call. In seconds he had called his men. “Did you get it?” he asked.

  “She’s in the city, Prince Jahan.”

  “Good, increase the search for her. Take no action, just keep me informed when you find her,” he ordered tersely. Jahan had heard the weariness in Chia’s voice. Her feared for her health.

  A sharp rap at his door, brought him to his feet, his robe belted tightly around his waist. “Yes.”

  Jamal entered and bowed his head slightly. “My father just called. They attacked my sister and two of her friends today on the way to the Helinium ruins.”

  Worry darkened Jahan’s eyes to midnight. “Were they harmed?”

  “No, but I must tell you that one of the friends was your bride, Chiandra.” Jamal stood tall, his pride and honor fierce.

  “Why didn’t you tell me of her whereabouts when you arrived, Jamal?” Did you not know I have been searching for her?” Intense black rage swept through Jahan. He battled to keep himself calm and listen to Jamal’s reasons for keeping such information secret.

  “It was a matter of family honor, my prince. Princess Chiandra saved my younger sister Miriam from a brutal rape from a drunken lout, during her last year at university.” Jamal spun towards the door at Ben’s low growl of utter fury.

  “Who dared?” he demanded.

  “James Duvall, III,” Jamal told him quietly.

  “I know his family. I will deal with this,” he snarled and stormed out.

  Jahan quickly turned and asked, “Why couldn’t you tell me?” Perplexed, it took Jahan a moment before understanding dawned. “Chia asked for a safe place to stay. Your family could not refuse her or betray her location to me without a loss of honor.” Ease yourself, Jamal. I take no offense at our actions or those of your family. In fact, I’m relieved to have such honorable friends for allies.”

  Jamal breathed a sigh of relief. “My father has dealt with the Aldinin and has sent Chiandra, Miriam, and Anya, the doctor, back to the city. Miriam is at our family’s home. I’m afraid I don’t know where your bride or Anya has gone. Although, I will find Anya,” he muttered.

  Jahan’s lips twitched, well recognizing the signs of a man in love and the frustration of not knowing where his woman was.

  “Do not fret, Jamal. I would imagine they are together. My men will find them soon. As soon as our meetings are finished, we will return to track our women down and deal with them then. Until then, I will put several men on alert to be ready when we find them. The Aldinin have spies everywhere. They would not hesitate to kidnap Chia and try to use her in the negotiations.” Jahan fought his worry. He could ill afford to weaken his position. Yet he could no more allow Chia to be harmed than he could stop breathing.

  “If I might make a suggestion, Prince Jahan?” At Jahan’s nod, he continued. “More than likely Anya has taken her to her home so that she might keep watch over her. If that is the case, then your men can watch them secretly to keep them safe. They won’t feel the need to flee and we won’t have to hunt them down again.”

  “I agree. It’s imperative to keep them safe. At this time, I cannot be distracted with the constant searching. Besides, they will grow complacent and it will much easier to find them and for me to bring Chia home where she belongs.” A tiny smile of satisfaction pulled at his lips.

  “Goodnight, Jahan.”

  “Goodnight, Jamal.” Jahan lay back on the bed, his spirits miraculously lightened. Chia was fine. He was but a few days away from having her back with him and his negotiations were coming to pass.

  Not surprising, his dreams were of a fiery red-head locked firmly beneath his thrusting body.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chia’s days settled into a pattern in the next few weeks. She had morning sickness, she choked down a few bits of food, and she paid a visit to Dr. Khan every few days. She was becoming weaker each day. She lost weight everywhere but her breasts and her belly.

  Two months after her return from the desert, she met Miri for lunch. Her first trimester was over and surprisingly she began to eat once more without being ill. She convinced Dr. Khan she was feeling much better, but kept her exhaustion from him. He still threatened to put her in the hospital.

  Chia watched Miri eyes widen at the amount of food she consumed.

  How can you stay so thin, eating like that? Is that how I seem to you?”

  “Well, it has only been a few days. I’m a little worried, Miri.” Chia fought the tears that threatened. Damn, she hated the hormone overload.

  Miri lay her hand over Chia’s and frowned at the slight tremor she felt. “Honey, what’s wrong? You’ve lost way too much weight and you are as white as a sheet.”

  “I’m worn out all the time. All I want to do is to sleep.” She squeezed Miri’s hand and picked up her napkin to wipe her eyes.

  “Have you told Dr. Khan?” Miri took a good look at her friend and didn’t like what she saw. Chia had always been very full figured. Now only her breasts and belly were large. Dark circles rimmed her eyes and she had no strength in her grip. She vowed to call Ben as soon as she got home and have him give Jahan a message. He needed to come back to the city and help his wife. Screw his negotiations. Chia needed to be his priority right now.

  “I’m afraid if I complain, he will put me in the hospital. I don’t think I could stand to be cooped up in a room all the time.”

  “What about Jahan? Have you told him?” Miri watched the way Chia’s eyes sparkled with interest.

  “I call him every night and we talk. He hasn’t pressured me to tell him where I am staying. It’s almost like he has given up on us or he is just too busy to worry about me.” Chia sighed, she was feeling a bit hurt that he was no longer interested in being married to her and was only being nice during their talks because of his heir.r />
  Miri nearly broke down at the fragile vulnerability Chia wore. Ben had told her that Jahan had discovered Chia’s location months ago and was having her watched for her protection. He had made Ben promise not to tell Chia. Thank the heavens the meetings were wrapping up this week. “Chia stop, you know Jahan loves you. He is trying to give you the time you need.”

  “I hope you are right, Miri, because I’m scared to death.” Chia blinked and forced herself to smile. Miri had too much to do getting ready for her wedding in a couple of months to worry about her. “Hey it is just all the emotional stuff pregnant women go through. I’m fine. Really, Miri. Now tell me everything about your plans.”

  Miri allowed Chia to distract her with talk of her wedding. Her face started to glow with her happiness as they talked about Ben. “He is so wonderful, so patient. I’m the one who is having a hard time waiting for our wedding night.”

  Chia burst out laughing at Miri’s flushed face. “It’s probably a good thing he has been gone for a couple of months. Or you’d be driving the poor guy crazy.”

  “You’re right. I would have.”

  “Listen, I hate to run, but I want to stop by and speak with Dr. Khan. Let’s get together soon.” Chia stood and hugged Miri and hurried out. She felt guilty for the envy she felt. Miri was having the perfect romance and soon her wedding to the love of her life. Once Chia had dreamed of Jahan sweeping her off her feet, confessing his undying love of her and then they would live the fairy tale, the happy ever after.

  She stumbled as tears blurred her vision. She glanced up and saw a large dark, bearded man approaching her swiftly. His dark gaze focused on the swell of her belly with evil intent. Horrified, she froze as she saw the knife in his hands. She had thought she was safe from the Aldinin fanatics.

  Suddenly two men surged between her and the man, accidentally shoving her to the ground. Chia fell hard, her hands automatically going to her stomach, trying to protect her babe. She landed hard on her elbow and her side and felt a twinge in her stomach. Oh Lord, she prayed, fearing she might lose her child.