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with all those women back at the big shelter. ”
    “ The tribe brought me back to that shelter last night.  I had no idea there were women inside. ”
    “ So they were waiting for you, huh? ”
    “ Look, they helped me undress, but nothing happened.  I was exhausted.  I fell asleep. ”
    “ What a shame, ” Rafe teased.
    Tiberius ignored him and urged his horse past his friend toward the group of hunters who were gathered around something not far away.  Tiberius felt a huge knot forming in the pit of his stomach.  If what they had found was Lexi, ravaged by some wild animal as she tried to escape, he would never forgive himself.  He felt unsteady in the saddle, and wanted to slow the horse down, but he couldn ’ t.  He had to know what was lying in the grass that the hunters, the Hoskali Rogu, had found.
    He silent prayed that it wouldn ’ t be Lexi ’ s body laying twisted and torn.  The group of men pulled back as Tiberius rode up to them.  For a moment, he had trouble getting the horse to stop, and then he almost lost his balance in the strange saddle.  When he finally got control, he looked down, his whole body tense for what he feared would be a gruesome sight.  Then he felt so much relief that he almost laughed.
    “ What is it? ” Rafe asked as he rode up behind Tiberius.
    “ It ’ s the missing saddle, ” he said.  “ Just the missing saddle. ”

Chapter 3
    Rafe
    Rafe glanced over and saw the look of relief on Tiberius ’ face.  He could relate to that feeling.  When Olyva had been trapped by the killer trees, he had thought he might die from concern for her.  When they rescued her, he felt such relief that it was almost too much to contain.
    “ Why would she bring the saddle way out here? ” Rafe asked.  “ You think she was planning on taking all the horses. ”
    “ Tiswanee, ” Te ’ sumee explained.  “ The horses here a long time.  See the grass, see the droppings. ”
    “ She brought the horses out here, ” Rafe said.  “ Maybe she thought that if I died you and Olyva might somehow escape? ”
    “ No, ” Tiberius said.  “ How could we have known where she was out here in the dark? ”
    “ Well then, why the third saddle? ”
    “ She needed it to stand on, ” Tiberius said.  “ She always had trouble getting the saddle up onto the horses’ backs. ”
    “ We follow the tracks, ” Te ’ sumee said.  “ That way. ”
    He pointed north, away from the camp and to Rafe ’ s surprise, away from Avondale.  One of the hunters carried the saddle back toward the camp; the others set off at a fast jog across the plain.  Rafe and Tiberius followed on their horses.
    “ Strange that she would have left the horses there, ” Rafe said.  “ I wonder what she was waiting for. ”
    “ To see who won the Tuscogee? ” Tiberius guessed.
    “ But if she did that, why not rejoin us?  Why would she leave the camp by herself, in the dark, if she knew we won? ”
    Tiberius ’ face dropped.  Rafe still didn ’ t understand what had happened.  He wondered if she had been kidnapped or if she and Tiberius had fought.  Nothing made sense.
    “ I think she saw me with the other women, ” Tiberius said quietly.
    “ What other women? ” he asked.
    “ The chief ’ s harem, ” Tiberius said bitterly.
    “ But you said you didn ’ t do anything. ”
    “ I didn ’ t, but I was tired.  The tribe carried me to the shelter and I went inside.  I didn ’ t even know the women would be in there. ”
    “ So, why would Lexi be mad about that? ”
    “ She just would, trust me.  She warned me about being unfaithful. ”
    “ You weren ’ t unfaithful, ” Rafe said.
    “ I know.  That ’ s why I have to find her and convince her that I didn ’ t do anything wrong. ”
    Rafe was quiet after that.  He knew women and relationships were difficult.  A man knew his duty, he had responsibility to guide him in life, but add a woman to the mix and things changed so radically