Read Elaine Barbieri for Free Online

where you’re taking me.”
    Shadow Walker replied impatiently, “I tire of your demands.” He pulled her toward the doorway, then looked down at her sharply when she dug in her heels and shook herself free, ordering, “Let me go!”
    The look in his eye—
    Miranda flung her arm up across her face to shield herself from an expected blow. She lowered her arm when the anger in Shadow Walker’s gaze turned to scorn and he said, “Your fear is groundless. Your immaturity saves you. The Cheyenne do not strike errant
children.
”
    Livid, Miranda responded, “I’m not afraid of you!And I’m not a child!”
    She was unprepared when Shadow Walker abruptly swept her from her feet and threw her over his shoulder, then turned and strode through the camp. She was defenseless against the mockery and snickering of passing squaws and their children as they made their way toward the stream—but her humiliation chilled when she glimpsed Spotted Bear’s cold stare.
    Thrust astride on a waiting horse, Miranda was still attempting to steady her reeling senses when Shadow Walker mounted behind her and nudged the animal into motion.
    Her head pounding, Miranda grated through clenched teeth, “Where are you taking me?”
    When Shadow Walker did not deign to reply, Miranda closed her eyes, reduced to silence by her physical distress.
    Shadow Walker looked down at the girl where she rested back against his chest. She had maintained her silence as the morning lengthened, allowing him to support her as they shared his horse. He trailed her mount at the end of a lead, aware that she was not steady enough to ride alone. He knew the only true medicine for the illness her fall had induced was the rest that now claimed her. He was content to allow it, knowing the girl’s injury had subdued her as fear never could have.
    Shadow Walker stared at the diminutive figure restinglimply against him. To be challenged by this fragile female …
    He considered that thought, finally accepting that the contest was a worthy one—for he knew the girl challenged him in ways others could not.
    Yes, he would wait—for the contest soon to come.

CHAPTER FIVE
    “That would be a mistake.”
    Indian agent Tom Edwards stood still, the expression on his bearded face adamant as he faced Major Charles Thurston across the confines of his small office. The Indian agent had responded to the officer’s summons and arrived at Fort Walters as the sun was setting. He had come reluctantly, knowing full well why the officer had sent for him. He was sympathetic to the man’s plight. Judging from the deep circles under his eyes and his unnaturally drawn appearance, Thurston was neither sleeping nor eating well. It was obvious that he was beside himself with worry for his missing daughter. All that aside, his answer remained the same.
    Edwards repeated, “It would be a
big
mistake for me to take you to the surrounding villages without a military escort. You’d be asking for trouble.”
    “I don’t see why.” Thurston walked around his desk, halting a few feet from him to press, “My daughter is missing. Patrols continue to search for her to no avail. Scouts have been dispersed from every fort in the area. Someone has to know where she is. It occurs to me that where official inquiries have been ineffective, apersonal inquiry might succeed.”
    “A personal inquiry—from a high-ranking officer of the military.”
    “A personal inquiry from a man who is searching for his daughter.”
    “I’m sorry. No.”
    Major Thurston’s pale face flushed with unnatural color. “A simple
no
isn’t good enough, Edwards. You need to give me a better reason for your refusal than that.”
    Agent Edwards unconsciously sighed. “Major, you’re aware of the situation that presently exists with the Cheyenne. With the arrest of Red Shirt, the frontier has become a powder keg ready to explode. Ignoring a flag of truce and arresting Red Shirt was a damned fool thing for the military to