Forbidden Ecstasy
Page 44
Gray Eagle silenced her with a gentle finger upon her lips. “There can be no looking back, Alisha. We were both wrong. We must learn trust and acceptance. Our mistakes have cost us a great price. We must share our love and our child. These things I promise you. I cannot take back what I have done to you. I cannot recall my words or punishments. I wish with all my heart I could…”
Alisha silenced him with a kiss. For so long she had dreamed of a kiss with fire and love, with truth and honor, with regret and promise, with past and future. When their lips finally parted, each smiled and refused to move away from the other’s touch. Their eyes spoke of newer and richer promises, of forgiveness and acceptance, of renewed trust and undying love. He pulled her to him again. His mouth closed over hers. She clung to him, returning the fiery kiss, but wanting far more.
“I take it this means you two have settled things,” Joe’s voice teased them. They slowly and reluctantly pulled apart; yet, now they knew they had all the time in the world to love.
“Damn if you ain’t a sight for worried eyes, Miss Alisha! You had me scared plumb to death! Had to postpone my wedding to come after you. Sure was worth it though,” Joe jested merrily.
“Your wedding! Who? When? How?” She shot questions at him in happy excitement.
He grinned happily. This was the first time he had ever seen such glowing lights of love and happiness within her enchanting eyes. Yep, she loved him all right! “I think you know her: Mary O’Hara. She’ll make a fine wife for a man like me,” he remarked. “Known each other for years. We talk through that sign language I taught her. She’s the one who helped me figure out this mystery. Got her waiting for me to return.”
Alisha gently disengaged herself from Gray Eagle’s possessive embrace. She went to Joe and hugged him tightly and affectionately. “You couldn’t have made a wiser or better choice, Joe. I hope you will both be as happy as we plan to be,” she declared, sending her husband an enchanting smile, eyes burning with love and desire.
Gray Eagle returned her smile with equal warmth and meaning. “I also wish you much happiness, Koda Joe. I owe you much for bringing me such joy and peace. In time our love would have come to view, but only after much more sadness and pain. Come and bring your wife to see our child when he is born, for he will be the best from both our kinds. The blood of the Indian and the white will join in our child. My wife has spoken the truth, for not all whites are bad,” he admitted with a rueful grin as he gazed at his wife and friend: both white-eyes!
Joe thought it best to conceal the news of Mary’s child until next time. Powchutu and Jeffery had already caused too much suffering for everyone. This was the time for healing and for growing. This was the season for farewell to winter, to sacrifice, to separation, to suspicion, to hatred.
This was the season for new beginnings and new births. Joe had been wise to come here, for his coming had signalled the lovers’ last farewell to the bittersweet past. Joe’s heart sang with joy as he watched the look which passed between the English girl and the mighty Sioux warrior…
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