“Her babies are all grown up and gone,” Runner said sadly.
“As one day you will grow up and go out on your own away from your parents,” Leonida said, dreading the thought of his ever leaving her.
Sage set both boys on blankets close to the fire. He patted them each on the head, then went and put an arm around Leonida as she bent to set Chips free. She smiled down at Runner as the chipmunk scampered quickly onto Runner’s lap, as though afraid ever to leave his protection again.
“Seems she won’t be leaving you,” Leonida said, laughing softly.
Sage took Leonida by the hand. “I think it’s time to join the celebration again,” he said, walking her toward the door. “The aroma of the food is drawing me to it. Come and show me the food that was prepared over our fire. It will be the best of all.”
Leonida looked over her shoulder before going on outside. “Come on, boys,” she said. “Let’s sit together as a family while we eat.”
“What about Pure Blossom?” Thunder Hawk said as he came bouncing toward Leonida. “She is family. Should she not join us also? It seems to be taking her so long to grow up enough to be like me and Runner.”
Sage laughed throatily as he swept Thunder Hawk into his arms and left the hogan. “She will never be like you and Runner,” he said, balancing Thunder Hawk on his shoulder as they walked toward the tantalizing smell of the food. “In many ways she will be different.”
“But she will join us soon to eat with us,” Leonida interjected. “Perhaps in a month or two.”
She gazed down at Runner as he came to her side, serious as he still petted his chipmunk. He had so many qualities of his father, all good. He was compassionate, brave, and intelligent. She had to believe that one day he would make as great a leader as Sage.
Then she cast a worried glance at Thunder Hawk. She could not fear the future in that her two children might end up competing for leadership, causing brothers to become enemies.
She shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts. Tonight was so far from that future, and tonight everything seemed perfect, ah, so wonderfully perfect.
If you enjoyed Wild Splendor,
be sure to read the exciting sequel,
Wild Desire,
available in stores now!
From New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author Cassie Edwards comes a captivating tale
of forbidden—but irresistible—love . . .
Stephanie Helton has long heard tales of the white boy
the Navaho kidnapped and called Runner, impressed
by his speed. Now he is a man, destined to be his
adopted people’s leader. Thanks to her father’s status
with the Santa Fe Railroad, Stephanie has been hired
to photograph the enchanting Southwest—and will
soon meet Runner in the flesh. An inexplicable thrill
runs through her at the idea—but the reason becomes
clear the moment she and the powerful, darkly sensual
man lock eyes. The force between them can only lead
to stolen kisses and overwhelming desire . . .
But as the railroad betrays the Navaho nation,
Runner soon finds his soul in torment. Can he lead
his people yet join his destiny with this woman?
Stephanie knows only that her heart may break.
For how can she be both Runner’s love, and his enemy . . .
Praise for Cassie Edwards
“A sensitive storyteller who always touches readers’ hearts.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Cassie Edwards captivates with white-hot adventure and romance.”
—Karen Harper
“Edwards moves readers with love and compassion.”
—Bell, Book & Candle
And don’t miss Wild Ecstasy, coming this December!
Fate revealed their forbidden love.
Passion allowed them to follow their hearts.
Beautiful and fiery of spirit, Mariah Temple
is the daughter of a tyrannical father
whose contempt for Native Americans
has given them every reason to hate him.
Echohawk is the daring Chippewa brave sworn to
avenge the wrongs done to his father and his people.
But when Mariah and Echohawk meet, the forbidden
is unavoidable—bloodlines no longer matter,
differences are swept away, and the two
become inseparable . . . until a fiercely
guarded secret tears them apart.
A future together would seem impossible,
yet nothing can diminish the smoldering,
restless heat of their desire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After my children were grown, I found myself restless, searching for ways to busy my idle hands and mind. I discovered my love of writing, and I was drawn to the mystique of Native American lore. The Navaho people of the Southwest have always fascinated me, and Wild Splendor was a special joy to write.
Having lived in St. Louis for thirty years, my husband and I moved to a small town when he retired from teaching. My dream house is peaceful and quiet, where an occasional curious red fox ventures onto the sun deck and peeks into my office, and where I can watch swallows building their nests and raising their babies right outside my kitchen window. It is a perfect place to create my stories.
I feel blessed to have found a “second life,” the first having been spent raising two happy and healthy sons. Writing my Native American romances is my small tribute to those beautiful first people of our land, who have suffered so much injustice.
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