Saadi was waiting on his horse. Christina handed him the letter and whispered, “Go with God.”
He smiled down at her sheepishly, his eyes filled with admiration, then he kneed his horse and started down the hill. Christina stood and watched him until he was out of sight. Then she turned to Philip, who was standing beside her, and placed her hand nervously on his arm.
“Thank you again, Philip. I feel much better now that John will know I’m all right.”
“Doesn’t that warrant another kiss, my sweet?”
“Indeed it does,” she returned. And she put her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her lips.
CHRISTINA WAS CURLED up on the couch absentmindedly staring at the chipped glass cup in her hands that contained her morning tea. She was trying desperately to remember what Philip had told her this morning before he left. It had been so early, and she had been so tired from the night before, that she hadn’t come fully awake to listen to him.
He had said something about going to sign a treaty with Sheik Yamaid Alhabbal to ensure that the two tribes would not conflict over the water they shared. He would be making arrangements for a meeting of the tribes to celebrate their renewed friendship. He would be gone for the entire day and possibly the night as well.
It all seemed so vague that Christina wondered if she could possibly have dreamed the whole thing. But if it had been a dream, where was Philip? He had not been in bed when she finally awoke. And Amine told her later that she had seen him talking to Rashid very early by the corral and that Philip had then ridden out of camp.
Suddenly Christina felt very lonely. Philip had never been away from her for a whole day before, except that time when she was stolen from him. It was still early morning, and she missed him already. What the devil was she going to do with herself today?
Perhaps there was a book in the collection Philip had given her that she had missed reading. She went to the cabinet where she kept her books and started rummaging through them. But before she had a chance to look them over. Rashid called from outside asking to enter.
Christina straightened up and smoothed her skirt before he entered. She started to smile, glad that she had someone to talk to for a while, but stopped when she saw the grave expression on Rashid’s face.
“What is it, Rashid? What has happened?” she asked hurriedly.
“I have something for you, Christina. It is from Abu.”
She ran to Rashid and quickly took the piece of paper he held out to her. But she was afraid to open it. Why did Rashid look so nervous, and why had Philip left her a note? But she was being silly. This was probably some kind of surprise or perhaps an apology for leaving her so quickly this morning while she was still half-asleep.
Christina walked over to the couch and sat down, still holding the note clutched in both hands. Slowly she opened it and began to read.
Christina,
I have asked Rashid to take you back to your brother. I did not think it would happen, but the fires have died and there is no point in going on. I am setting you free, which is what you have always wanted. I wish you to be gone before I return. It will be better that way.
Philip
Christina shook her head slowly, staring at the note in disbelief. No—this wasn’t true! It was some kind of cruel joke. But why did she feel so sick inside? She wasn’t even aware of the tears that had come to her eyes, but she felt a choking lump swelling in her throat and a tightening in her chest. Her hands felt cold and clammy as she crumpled the piece of paper and squeezed it tightly in one hand.
“Dear God, why—why would he do this to me now?” she whispered hoarsely.
The tears flowed freely down her cheeks, and her nails dug deeply into her palm as she squeezed the piece of paper that had shattered her life. But she felt nothing but the anguish that consumed her.
Rashid stood before her and rested his hand gently on her shoulder.
“Christina, we must leave now.”
“What?”
Christina looked up at him as if she didn’t even know who he was. But life returned to her, and she suddenly felt angry at Philip. How could he so callously dispose of her?
“No!” she said quickly, her voice filled with emotion. “I am not leaving. I will not be cast aside like an old shirt. I’ll stay here and face him. Let him tell me himself that he wants me to go. I’ll not make it easy for him.”
Rashid looked at her in surprise. “But I thought you wanted to go back to your brother. You told me yourself that things were not well between you and Abu.”
“But that was a long time ago. Everything has changed since then. Rashid, I love him.”
“You did not tell him of this?”
“No,” she whispered. “How could I tell him when I didn’t know how he felt? But now I do know.”
