Yellowstone Origins: Yellowstone Romance Series, Book 6

by Peggy L Henderson

  He’s not interested in you, Riley. You offered to share the cover, and that’s all he’s doing.

  “No, I … Good night.”

  Riley lowered herself to the ground, turning away from him. She rested her head on her bent arm, and stared into the darkness. Why was her mouth failing her now? She tucked her knees up in a fetal position. She’d never been more aware of anyone, the way she was aware of Cameron’s warm body next to her.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. With some sleep, her mind would be clear again in the morning, and end her crazy thoughts and feelings about Cameron Cameahwait James.

  Chapter Ten

  Cam shifted his weight, rolling further onto his left hip. The pleasant scent of honey filled his nose, and the feel of something softer than doeskin rubbed against his chest. His palm rested on a warm and smooth curve, and his fingers slowly explored along the contours of the soft body lying so close for his touch. In the deep chasm between sleep and waking, pleasant sensations coursed through him.

  A quiet sigh next to him brought him fully awake. Cam stared into the darkness of the night, instantly aware of Riley lying next to him. He inhaled deeply of the scent that lingered in her hair, strands of it tickling his cheek. He cursed silently and eased his hand away from what could only be the rise of her hip. Heat seared through him. His body curved around the back of hers, and she fit snugly up against him.

  Gritting his teeth as every part of him came alive, Cam moved away from her. He slipped out from under the buffalo robe, and stumbled several paces away from camp, welcoming the cold blast of air against his skin. He straightened, and raked his fingers through his hair. The fire had burned out, and only the coals glowed a soft orange. The half moon in the sky gave off enough light to make out the gentle ripples on the surface of the lake. Cam fought the urge to plunge into the cold water.

  The sound of crickets surrounded him, the soothing cadence of their nightly song doing little to curb the smoldering heat inside him. Cam glanced toward the buffalo robe. If Riley had moved, he hadn’t noticed. Muttering curses under his breath, he walked toward the water’s edge. He paced along the shoreline, then, once the beating of his heart returned to a more normal pace, eased himself onto the grass and pulled his knees up to his chest. He stared out at the silvery moon reflecting on the surface of the lake. Slowly, the tension eased in him with the soft splashes from countless fish as they preyed on the bugs that swarmed the water.

  What was he going to do about Riley Bernard? He plucked at the grasses around him, twisting them between his fingers. He’d had a similar reaction to her the previous night, even though his entire focus had been on finding the vessel on her. He’d known the second she’d offered to share the buffalo robe earlier that it was a bad idea, but it hadn’t stopped him from accepting her offer. Hell. Just being near her was a bad idea.

  His instant attraction to her had baffled him all day. He’d been trying to shrug it off as a reaction to her blonde hair, and the modern clothes she wore, which conjured up memories of his past. The more time he’d spent in her company, however, had only increased his attraction for this woman, who was so out of place in this environment. She was pretty, smart, and most definitely determined. His former name on her lips sounded better than anything he’d heard in a long time.

  What if he couldn’t convince Naatoyita to send her back to her time? His fingers made contact with a small rock in the dirt, and he flung it out into the water. He stared off into the darkness. The faint, gray light of dawn hovered behind the mountains. A pack of wolves barked somewhere in the distance, followed by a drawn-out howl.

  Cam shifted his shoulders as if it would rid him of his troubling thoughts about Riley. If they traveled fast, within two or three days, they'd reach the valley where his Tukudeka family usually spent the summer months. He wasn't going to be foolish again and share the bison robe with Riley. Enduring several cold nights would be easier than the torture of sleeping in such close proximity to this woman. She did things to his mind and body without being aware of it. A simple smile, a soft word, a touch of her fingers on his skin was all it took to send his mind into a tailspin.

  A slow smile passed over Cam’s lips. He’d pushed her hard, no question. He’d been prepared to carry her, if needed, to get to this lake before nightfall. To his surprise, she’d kept up a good pace all day, without complaint, despite her sore and injured feet.

  He’d been vigilant all day, looking for any sign that the Bakianee might be following them. As a precaution, he’d backtracked and set some false trails to slow them down. No doubt, Cunning Fox felt cheated for losing his other prisoner, and it put Riley in danger. It would matter little to the Blackfoot that he’d given her up willingly in trade.

  Cam’s smile widened. If Cunning Fox only knew what a prize the warrior had given up. Riley wasn’t weak. She might be tired, and her body was no doubt strained from being pushed to the limit, but she had an inner strength that wouldn’t let her quit.

  He gnashed his teeth. Not only was she the prettiest thing he’d seen in years, she was strong and resilient. He’d been completely wrong about her, just like the Bakianee had been wrong. Trading his prized bow for her seemed like a bargain.

  His smile faded. No one would question that she was his woman, but he couldn’t keep her. His Tukudeka family would consider them wed once he mentioned that he’d traded his most cherished weapon for her, but he hadn’t done it to claim her as a mate. He’d traded for her, but she didn’t belong to him.

  No. These were the ways of the Newe, the People, but they were not her ways. She belonged in the future. Just as someone had come to return him to 2036 when he’d touched Makua’s vessel as a boy and had nearly been killed by a cougar, he’d make sure Riley would return safely to where she belonged. Until he found the last of the Sky People elders and demanded she be returned to where she came from, Cam would protect her and keep her safe.

  Where do you belong, Cameahwait . . . Cameron?

  He sat by the lakeshore until the first faint rays of the sun emerged from behind the mountains to the east. It was time to break camp and continue on to find his Tukudeka family. Riley hadn’t roused since he’d left the warmth of the covers . . . and the warmth of her lying next to him. It wasn’t something he could repeat.

  Riley stirred behind him, and Cam sprang to his feet. She moved under the hide to roll onto her back, then all was quiet again. He approached to stoke the coals in the fire and bring it back to life. He knelt beside the buffalo robe instead. How could she sleep so soundly? The sun steadily climbed higher over the mountains, and the birds chirped loudly in the trees, signaling the start to a new day. He could have broken camp hours ago. She must have been more tired than he’d realized.

  Cam’s gaze traveled over her, at least the parts that weren’t covered up under the bison hide. His lips twitched. Her light hair hung in disheveled strands around her head, spilling out over the grass beneath her. Her glasses dangled down one side of her face. She must have fallen asleep with them on. He hesitated, then reached out, and slowly removed the eyewear that was hooked behind her ear. She shifted slightly, and gave a soft moan, but she didn’t wake.

  She had to be exhausted. He’d asked a lot of her the day before, and she’d lived through her ordeal with the Bakianee before that. Her feet would be better today, and when they made camp again tonight, he’d repeat the Ah-kun poultice.

  Cam set the glasses aside. Hell, he should just toss them into the lake. She’d said she didn’t need them to see, so why would she wear them and obstruct his view of her pretty eyes?

  His fingers reached out again, then he bunched them into a fist, and drew back. He studied her some more as if he had to convince himself that she was real. She had several dirt smudges on her nose, and her fair skin had been exposed to too much sun. It couldn't be helped. He smiled. What would she say if he told her to cover her entire face with mud to protect it from the sun?

  His hand tentatively reached toward her face
. He’d fought the urge to touch her long enough, and it was a losing battle. His fingers stroked the soft skin of her cheek. Cam’s eyes followed the contours of her chin, her mouth, her nose, and her eyes. She would be burned into his memory forever.

  Riley’s head moved beneath his touch, and Cam jerked his hand away from her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, then widened with surprise. She shrank away, then seemed to recover as if she remembered where she was, and scrambled to sit. Her hand flew to her face, swiping at her loose hair.

  “I overslept, didn’t I?” Her voice was raspy from sleep.

  She inched away from him, putting distance between them. Cam leaned away from her. After what he’d done the night before, she had a good reason to look apprehensive, waking up to find him leaning over her.

  He cleared his throat. “It’s still early, but we should break camp soon.”

  He couldn’t tell her that he would have preferred to leave camp before sunup. He stood, reluctantly, and gave his attention to the fire, something he should have done already. His muscles tensed, and he poked at the coals with a stick.

  Behind him, Riley groaned and mumbled words that her entire body hurt and that she felt like an old woman. His lips twitched. Too bad there weren't any hot springs in the area. A good soak would soothe her aching muscles.

  “I’m just going to…ah… I need some privacy.”

  Cam turned to look over his shoulder when Riley spoke. She looked uncomfortable, standing there, and unsure of what to do. Her hand worked to adjust her skirt that had bunched up around her legs. All the more reason to get to the village quickly. She needed more suitable clothes.

  He pointed with the stick in his hand toward the creek that led out of the lake.

  “Across the creek, you’ll find some dense vegetation. There’s lots of privacy there.”

  Riley nodded and walked off. Cam followed her with his eyes. She stopped when she reached the edge of the creek. She looked toward the lake, then downstream. The creek flowed fast in that spot. If she chose that route, it would be impossible to cross without getting wet. He stood, ready to call out and tell her what to do when she headed for the dead log that hung over the water.

  His lips twitched. A warm sensation spread through him. She was smart and resourceful. No sooner had those thoughts entered his mind when he nearly broke out in laughter. She wasn’t very agile, by the looks of it. She stepped onto the log, and held both arms out at her sides, like a young eagle attempting his first flight, and took a tentative step forward. Her knees trembled visibly, and her upper body swayed to one side, but she caught her balance.

  Go and help her.

  Cam shook his head. Crossing a creek was a simple task. There would be greater challenges up ahead, and she needed to learn for herself. Many minutes passed by the time she finally made it across.

  Several times, it looked as if she would have been better off wading through the water, and that he might have to pull her from the creek, but she didn’t give up. She made it across, and there was a distinct lift to her shoulders and head when she marched off into the foliage.

  He smiled. Her tenacity and determination were admirable. Riley might not have experience in the wild, but she didn't back down from a challenge. Cam's eyes lingered on her retreating form until she disappeared into the bushes. He stood there, still smiling. He'd had plenty of encounters with females, but he'd never been this acutely attracted to one.

  He left the fire and headed into the trees in the opposite direction of where he'd sent Riley. Most of the fish he'd caught last night hung high in a tree a good distance from camp. It had been foolish enough cooking the fish where they'd slept, but at least storing the rest of his catch far away minimized a bear walking into their camp. Without his bow, he was nearly defenseless.

  He’d quickly cook the rest of his catch before breaking camp, then he wouldn't have to stop and find food again until tonight. Fishing at the lake inlet had been easy. This was the time of year when trout spawned in that stream, and he could have caught the fish with his bare hands if he'd wanted. His other hunting was currently limited to what he could kill with his knife or ax. Setting traps or snares while on the way to the village would take too much time.

  Cam sliced his knife through the twine he’d used to hoist the passel of fish into the tree. It dropped to the ground next to him. Some ravens had taken an opportunistic nibble out of several of the fish, but for the most part, they were all still there.

  He bent to pick up the passel when a scream pierced the quiet of the forest. Ravens answered loudly, and wings flapped as several of the birds took to flight from some nearby trees. Cam ripped the knife he'd just sheathed back out of his belt and bolted for the lake. His heart must have skipped a beat at the sound.

  A dozen thoughts raced through his mind as he darted between trees to get to the clearing. Anything from a grizzly to a wood mouse could have made Riley scream. Even if she’d simply fallen into the creek, he had to find out. What if there were Bakianee in the area?

  Cam cursed his stupidity for leaving her alone. He should have waited to collect the fish until she returned to camp. He leaped over a downed log, and sprinted from the forest, then veered to the left toward the outlet of the lake. His blood turned to ice at the sight of a figure, that was not Riley, standing near the creek.

  Cam lengthened his strides, his knife firmly in his hand. By the time he reached their camp, the lake’s outlet was in full view. Riley splashed in the water, only her head and arms visible, which she flailed through the air like a young gander trying to take flight.

  Cam's eyes shot to the man standing by the edge of the creek, yelling at her to stop. He slowed his strides and squinted to see better. The hunter had seen him, too. He reached for an arrow from the quiver on his back and strung his bow.

  Cam sprinted forward. "I am a friend," he called in Shoshone and held up an arm.

  The hunter on the other side of the water hesitated. He stared across the creek, then lowered his weapon just as Cam splashed into the water. Relieved, he ignored the man completely and rushed toward Riley, who still sputtered and tried to get a foothold on the slick creek bottom.

  “Cameron,” she called, her eyes wide with worry.

  Cam reached for her and lifted her from the water. She flung her arms around his neck and held on like a leech attaching itself to his skin.

  “It’s okay, that man won’t harm you.”

  Cam carried her to shore and set her in the grass. She shivered violently. He pried her arms from around his neck, acutely aware of how her shirt had become nearly invisible from being wet, and clung to her curves.

  “There is no danger,” he said in a calm voice to convince her.

  “Cameahwait?” the man on the other side of the creek called to him, disbelief in his voice.

  Cam straightened to look at the Tukudeka hunter who’d called his name. He smiled in greeting. “It’s been a long time, Isa.”

  The other man splashed through the water, and held out his hand, a wide grin on his face. Cam clasped his arm.

  "It has been a long time." The hunter's eyes roamed over him as if trying to convince himself who stood before him. "You have been gone too many seasons, Cameahwait. My name is no longer Isa. I have been on a vision quest, and the people now call me Wo'itsa."

  Cam nodded. His boyhood friend owned an impressive name, but he didn’t comment. He turned to Riley, who’d scrambled to her feet. She continued to shiver, her arms firmly wrapped around her chest. Her eyes darted from him to the man he hadn’t seen since leaving his Tukudeka family. Cam stepped to put himself between her and the hunter. Riley’s wet shirt hid very little, and he forced his eyes to remain on her face.

  “There’s nothing to fear from him,” he said again. “He’s a friend.”

  Riley raised her chin. She wiped a trembling hand across her face, to push some wet strands of hair from her eyes.

  “It’s not him I was worried about,” she sputtered. Her eyes darted
to the trees beyond the creek. She pointed a shaky finger in that direction. “There’s a skunk over there. It scared the cra… It startled me. I ran, and lost my balance coming over the log.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Cam added wood to the fire, sending the flames higher than preferred. At least it was dry wood and didn't give off much smoke. He glanced at Riley, who shivered visibly, even wrapped in the buffalo hide. She needed some extra warmth to recover from her plunge in the cold water.

  Wo’itsa stood silently a few paces away, his gaze darting between the fire and Riley. His expression was impassive, but the slight gleam in his eyes was proof enough that his mind was trying to work out who this woman might be.

  Finally, he asked, “Where is your bow, Cameahwait?”

  Cam groaned silently. He couldn’t avoid the question. No respectable hunter was without his horn bow.

  “I traded it for this woman,” he grumbled.

  Wo’itsa’s eyes lit up like the sun shining brightly after a mountain storm. He didn’t say anything, but nodded with a wide grin on his face.

  "Are you alone?" Cam asked, to give his friend's speculating mind a rest. He skewered several fish and fastened a spit over the fire.

  Wo’itsa nodded. “I return from a journey into the high mountains, to seek the guidance of the spirits.”

  Cam’s head lifted to his friend. “Did you receive it?”

  Wo'itsa's face hardened. "No. They would not speak to me this time." His chest heaved as if he'd taken a deep breath. The smile he offered was forced. "But I see that the Sky People have favored you with a gift." He nodded toward Riley. "Perhaps you could teach her to remove her clothes first, the next time she decides to go for a swim."

  Cam tensed. He shot an involuntary look at Riley, too, lingering on her light hair. Of course, Wo'itsa would assume that the Sky People had sent her. Her eyes were on both of them, following their word exchange, even though she couldn't understand what was being said. He crouched next to her.