Yellowstone Heart Song (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 1) (20 page)

Daniel snorted. “My word against hers? No one would believe me. So I ran,” Daniel continued, as if speaking to himself. “I’ve never run from anything before or since, but that day I ran. I didn’t stop to bid my aunt farewell. I ran straight back here, and I’ve never looked back.”

“I see why that would leave you bitter toward white women,” Aimee said simply. “I was really shocked those first few days after you found me, when you seemed to absolutely hate me.”

“The only thing you and she have in common is your fair skin,” Daniel reassured her. “I wanted to hate you simply for that – that you are a white woman. I had all but forgotten Emma, but seeing you brought all those unpleasant memories back. And I was angry with myself because I had these powerful feelings for you right from the start. It left me confused, and I lashed out in anger. I swore I would never be fooled by the lying, deceptive ways of a white woman again.”

It was her turn to stiffen. Wasn’t that exactly what she was doing? Everything about her was a lie. How would Daniel react if he ever found out the truth about her? A shiver ran down her spine.

Daniel bent his head and kissed her, a languid gentle kiss that melted her from the inside out.

“I know now that my infatuation with Emma was only that. It wasn’t love. And I didn’t love Morning Fawn. I was fond of her, but my mind and body didn’t burn for her the way I burn for you. I have fought my affection for you all these weeks. I can’t fight it anymore. You are my heart song,” he whispered.

“I love you, Daniel,” she simply said, a sad note in her voice.

“You are a mystery I can’t explain, and I will wait until you enlighten me. You are the bravest, strongest, and most beautiful woman I have ever known. It is selfish of me to ask you to stay here in the mountains with me.”

Aimee tried to keep the tears from flowing, but it was no use. In a little over a month she would be leaving, never to return again. She wasn’t free to tell him this, though. She’d made a promise. What was she going to do? She was happier than she had ever been in her life, and at the same time she was miserable for the secret she carried with her. Daniel lifted her chin with gentle fingers, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“If you don’t wish to stay in the mountains, I’ll go to the city with you” he said soberly.

“You would do that for me?”

“I would.”

“I could never ask you to do that,” she shook her head. “You are a part of these mountains, and they are a part of you.”

“You are part of me. You belong to me now,” Daniel said softly, stroking her cheek.

“Let’s not talk about this, okay?” She took a deep breath, and tried to smile. “Can we just live in the moment, and not think about what might happen tomorrow. We’re together right now, and that’s what matters to me, not what might be in the future.”

Daniel forehead wrinkled, and his brows drew together.

“Aimee.” he inhaled slowly. “The man you are promised to, he is not coming for you.”

“I told you that a long time ago.”
Why is he bringing that up?

“I wish to be your man . . . your husband. I want you for my wife.” He gazed intently at her. His eyes spoke of hope and expectation.

Her own eyes widened in surprise.

“You want what?” She exhaled incredulously. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her mind raced so fast, she couldn’t hold on to one coherent thought.

“I am a good provider, and I will protect you with my life,” Daniel stated passionately. He raised himself up on one elbow, and leaned toward her. “I was also wrong to think you could not survive here. You have proven repeatedly that you can.”

His hand cradled her cheek and he kissed her again.

Aimee squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears. This was killing her. Her heart screamed to tell him yes, she would love nothing more than to be his wife. Her mind told her this was insanity. How could she say she’d be his wife and then disappear? Why was fate so cruel?

“There are so many things about me that you don’t know,” she whispered.
Should I tell him?
God, this was torture.

“All I know is that I can’t give you up. You belong with me.” He rolled on top of her and claimed her mouth possessively. This time there was no slow and sensuous lovemaking as he pushed her legs apart, and entered her with one swift thrust. With this joining she felt branded, and Aimee surrendered herself completely as silent tears streamed down her face.

Chapter 18

Aimee had never been more happy and miserable all at the same time in her entire life. She accompanied Daniel wherever he went. They would scout rivers and tributaries for beaver habitat in the morning, or go on hunting forays. He insisted on teaching her how to load and shoot the rifle, and how to use a knife and tomahawk to defend herself. She surprised him with some self-defense moves of her own. He started teaching her the language of the Shoshoni, showed her how to tan hides and make arrowheads from obsidian. After supper they would sit together outside the cabin, or walk the riverbank until the sun went down, and often made love late into the night.

One evening after they’d eaten and walked down to the banks of the Madison, Daniel stopped abruptly. With his hands on her upper arms, he turned her to face him. His eyes roamed over her face for a few moments, as if he was searching intently for something.

“What?” She shrugged her shoulders when he didn’t say anything.

“Are you with child?” he blurted out.

“Am I what?” she asked, taken aback at the unexpected question. Then she laughed. “Good God, no I’m not pregnant. Why would you think that?”

“Elk Runner has often complained that during the months Little Bird carries a child, she is always weepy and absent-minded. And you haven’t bled.”

“You think I’m weepy and absent-minded?”

“You have been.” Daniel nodded. “If you are carrying my child, I will take you to the city. I will not let you birth a baby here in the wilderness.”

From the serious look in his eyes, there was no doubt that he was thinking about his mother.

“Daniel.” Aimee rested her hands on his chest, and met his stare. “First of all, you can relax. I’m not pregnant, I swear.”
The convenience of modern contraceptives
. Her preferred choice of birth control was the injectable kind. She found this form easier to manage, and it had the added convenience of no monthly flows. She hated going backpacking and being on her period.

“And second,” she continued, “I thought you were over your hang-up about the dangers of the wilderness to me. You said yourself I’ve proven myself to you. And I am as healthy as a horse.”

“Then why have you not had your woman’s time?” he prodded. “I have shared your bed for many weeks, and it’s something I would have noticed.”

“I can’t explain that to you right now. Maybe some other time.” She sadly lowered her gaze. What else could she say?

“It’s all right, Aimee,” Daniel said softly. He held the side of her face in one hand, and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I don’t care if you are unable to conceive children. I love you no matter what.”

Aimee avoided his gaze. Well, maybe that was a convenient way to end this topic.

“I love you, too, Daniel.” She leaned up to kiss him.
Why couldn’t I have met you 200 years from now?

Daniel took her hand and they continued their stroll along the riverbank.

“My father will be back any day now.” He squeezed her hand. “I will explain to him that you’re my wife.”

 Aimee stared across the river.  Her body stiffened. Her time here was coming to an end, but hearing Daniel confirm it made it more real.

“He will accept you,” he added quickly.

She kept quiet and chewed on her lower lip.
I already know your father. And when he returns, my world will end.

“I also plan to start building our own cabin before winter sets in. Next summer I will take you to St. Louis, and we can get married in the white man’s way if you wish.”

Aimee swallowed back the lump in her throat.
I’m not going to be here come winter, much less next summer!
Her mind screamed.

“Daniel.” She stopped and turned to face him fully. “I want you to know that no matter what happens in the future, I will always love you. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. Please don’t ever forget that.” Tears threatened to spill down her face, and she blinked rapidly.

“Aimee, what’s wrong? You talk in riddles. Do you have the power to look into the future?” He chuckled. “Because if you do, could you tell me if it’s going to be a good trapping season this winter?”

He was trying so hard to cheer her up that she couldn’t help but smile. She sucked in a deep breath, then put her hands to her forehead, and pretended to concentrate hard.  “It’s going to be the best trapping season you’ve ever had. The beavers are going to line up outside your door.”

He hugged her to him tightly. Just then, a streak of lightning illuminated the sky.

“There’s going to be a big storm tonight. We’d better get back to the cabin.”

****

The next morning the ground outside had turned to mud. Afternoon thunderstorms were a common occurrence, but the rain last night was unrelenting. Daniel announced it would be best if he went out alone that morning to check on some of his traps.

“I’ll be back soon.” He kissed her on the forehead as he turned to leave. Aimee threw her arms around his neck and held him tight.

“I love you,” she said passionately.

He lifted her off the ground and pulled her to him. Aimee clung to him as if he would vanish if she let go. Daniel had to pry her off him. He gave her a perplexed look before he kissed her.

“You are my heart song,” he whispered and set her away from him. “I won’t be gone long.”

Aimee paced the cabin restlessly, too fidgety to focus on any tasks. The storm had played havoc with her nerves. By mid-morning, she couldn’t stay in the cabin any longer. A walk would calm her down. She had done a lot of thinking over the last few weeks. Lying awake in the night, listening to the storm, she had finally come to a firm decision. Nothing she had ever experienced in life came close to what she felt when she was with Daniel. How could she possibly give that – him – up to go back to a life she didn’t particularly enjoy? Here, in this time and in this place, with this man, she was completely alive. It’s where she was meant to be. She did not want to go back to her own time. She had nothing to go back to. She would miss her best friend, Jana, and triple chocolate fudge ice cream. But in her heart she knew that her life was here with Daniel.

Aimee opened the cabin door to head out, only to stagger back in surprise and shock. In the doorway stood Zachariah Osborne.

“Miss Donovan!” he exclaimed. “It is so good to see you. I am so relieved to find you safe and sound. I must say, I’ve been worried that I made the right decision in sending you here.” 

“Zach,” she said with a half-smile, recovering from her surprise. The day she’d been dreading had arrived. She moved aside so he could enter.

He perused her from top to bottom. “You look well,” he remarked. “Maybe a bit thinner than when I last saw you,” he added. “How’s that son of mine been treating you? I hope he wasn’t too gruff with you. I probably didn’t tell you enough about Daniel to prepare you, but I hope he took good care of you.”

“Yes, very well.” She studied the man. His grizzled hair must have been a dark blond or brown at some point. His height and frame was much like Daniel. His face was wrinkled from a lifetime spent outdoors in the sun, but his skin tone was lighter than his son’s. She figured Daniel must have gotten his olive complexion and black hair from his French mother.

“He doesn’t know anything, I hope? You were able to keep the secret?”

“He doesn’t know anything,” she confirmed. “It’s been hard because my appearance here is something I couldn’t quite explain, and he’s wondering about it, but to his credit he hasn’t been pushy to find out.”

“Well good, I want to keep it that way.” Zach smiled. “Go gather your belongings and I’ll send you home now, before he comes back.”

Zach pulled something from the leather pouch around his neck. She recognized the shriveled-up ugly snakehead with the beady red eyes – the object she had scoffed and laughed at three months ago when he’d first shown it to her. It was the device that allowed him to time travel. How was it even possible to time travel? It was something that could probably never be explained. All she could do was accept it.

“How will you explain my sudden disappearance?” she asked while she kept a wary eye on the snakehead. All she had to do was touch the right eye of the snake, and she would be transported back to her own time.

“Won’t have to,” Zach waved a dismissive hand in front of his face. “I’m leaving here as soon as I send you back, and won’t show up again for another day or two. That way there’s no connection between us.”

“Zach,” she said slowly, tentatively. “I have something to tell you.”

“What is it? Come on girl, we don’t have much time.”

“I don’t want to go back to my time,” Aimee blurted out.

“What?” Zach boomed in disbelief. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I love Daniel, and I love it here. I don’t want to leave him, or this time and place.”

“You can’t stay here, Miss Donovan,” Zach said firmly, a hard look on his face. “I’ve told you before that this is no permanent place for a woman. And I know for a fact that Daniel would wholeheartedly agree with me. You two may have . . . ahhh . . . developed a certain fondness for each other.” He rubbed his chin as if considering this possibility. “But Daniel would not want you to stay here. I was happy to make your wish come true to experience the wilderness for a while, but now you need to get back to your own time.”

“Please, Zach. I’ve proven I can survive here. Daniel and I love each other.” Her voice sounded desperate.

“I . . . I can’t,” Zach hesitated for a moment. “I can’t put my boy through the same pain I went through when I lost his mother.”

“I’m not like your wife!” Her voice went shrill out of desperation. “Don’t you see that if you send me back, you will be hurting your son?”

Zach seemed to consider this. “Daniel swore he would never bring a woman to live here. He knows better. I’m sorry my son may have used you, Miss Donovan.”

“He didn’t use me! Ask him yourself,” she pleaded, tears of frustration streaming down her face.

“I can’t ask him without him finding out about the time travel device. I’m not passing this thing on to him when I die. It ends here with me.”

“Why won’t you be honest with him? Why can’t he know about this?”

“He doesn’t need to know about it now, at this point in his life. I wanted to tell him over the years, but it was never the right time. Now he may not ever forgive me if I tell him.” Zach looked almost panicked.

“What are you afraid of?” Aimee pressed.

“How is he going to react if I tell him he was born in the year 1985? He believes he is part of these mountains, and that his mother died here, giving birth to him. He won’t accept it.”

“He is part of these mountains. Telling him the circumstances of his birth won’t change that. He’s stronger than you think,” she argued. “He deserves to know the truth.”

“Daniel has been happy here all his life. Why would I want to shatter his world now?”

“You may have already done that,” she said. “By sending me here. He has questions, and I couldn’t give him any answers. If I suddenly disappear again, how will he react to that? Have you even thought about that?”

“I never imagined there would be feelings between the two of you,” Zach conceded. “He was in love with a white girl once. He hasn’t told me much, but he came back from Philadelphia abruptly, and swore off all white women. So you see, I never thought much about you and him.”

“Please, Zach,” she pleaded again. “You can’t do this. It’s my choice to want to stay here.”

Zach quickly scanned the cabin for her things. Gathering up what he could find, he stuffed it in her backpack.