“Yes.”
Jack smiled. “Maybe you had better beat her three times a day, heh? To make her better.”
They both chuckled at the absurdity of it.
Jack had to focus hard to find his bedroll, even though he knew he should have been able to locate it blindfolded, or without the nearly full moon to see by. But that was the problem. He was having trouble with his vision. He chuckled aloud. He and Shozkay had drunk several jugs oftulapai. They were both going to think they were dying in the morning, but right now he didn’t give a damn.
After a thorough search of the area to the southeast of the camp, which he determined was where he had laid his gear, he finally found the spot.
Shozkay had offered him hisgohwah. So had Hayilkah, and numerous others, including the dead brave’s family. But Jack had refused. There was nothing he liked more than sleeping in the starlight, especially when the air was mountain fresh and slightly cool, like now. He lay on his blanket and fell right into sleep.
He had a wonderful dream. A woman was pressing her bare, soft breasts against his back, kissing his neck, his ear. The whole length of her strained against him, and she pressed the soft heat of her womanhood against his buttocks, her hands stroking the hair on his chest. Her hands roamed lower, light and deft, and Jack was in bliss—an excited bliss. He rolled over to face her, enveloping her in his arms, his mouth seeking hers, finding it. It was so real. It was too real. Jack woke up.
He did have a woman in his arms, and she was naked—as was he. She was silky soft, writhing against him, making soft little noises. Her hair was long and straight, and spilled over his hands as they roamed her back. Her nipples were hard and teased his chest.
Her hips arched up against his and begged him on. Jack’s whole body was trembling, on fire. He thrust into her, hard, fast, and when she cried his name he knew it was Datiye.
When he awoke she was gone. She was the second thing he remembered. The first was his mother, and the heaviness in his heart, the awful feeling of loss. Then he recalled that Datiye had come to him in the night. He knew she had deep feelings for him, and he sensed that becoming involved with her again would cause him trouble. Although he did not consider last night a renewal of their relationship, he was sure she did. He grew angry.
Angry at her. For she would never have gotten what she wanted if she hadn’t taken advantage of his inebriated state. If he was going to lie with a woman he would have chosen someone else, maybe the slim young widow Barhilye. But not Datiye. And he was angry at himself. Inebriated or not, he should have resisted. He did not want a woman in his life who would make demands on him.
He thought about the threepindahhe had killed, the ones who had staked out the novice warrior—the young boy. He thought about the fourth man, the one he had marked by shooting him, and he thought of the vengeance that would follow shortly. A war party would probably go out within a few days.
He packed up all his gear, feeling grim.
He heard them before he saw them. He was cinching up the saddle, and he turned slightly to see Datiye standing with Shozkay and Luz. He had just finished when she ran to him. “You’re leaving!”
He turned abruptly, his silver eyes hard. “This does not change anything.”
“Do not be angry,” she said softly. “Last night was beautiful, all I have dreamed of. I wanted you very much.”
Jack did not reply.
“I will never marry again,” she said seriously. “I am yours now. I will wait for you to return.”
Jack’s jaw clenched. “No, Datiye. I do not want you to wait for me. You are not my woman.”
Her expression didn’t change. “You have my heart. What happened last night was only right.”
“Last night means nothing!” Jack exploded.
“No.” She touched his shoulder, making him turn back to her. “You are very wrong.”
He shifted impatiently, looked past her at his brother and his wife. Datiye gave him one last look before drifting away and disappearing into the trees. Shozkay and Luz came forward. It was hard meeting his brother’s expression. “So short a time with us?” Luz asked. “Usen walk with you, Salvaje. Do not stay away so long this time.”
He smiled. “Usen walk with you, Luz.”
She turned and left.
Jack faced his brother’s dark, disturbed gaze. “One day,” Shozkay said, “maybe you will explain this to me.”
“One day,” Jack said, “maybe I could try.”
“My heart is too heavy. This time our paths must come together sooner.”
“I do not belong here.”
“Your place is here.”
