Enchanted Ecstasy Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Indian girl a drink. She shook her head, then continued to ignore him. Kane took a long drink, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and squinted at the sun, which seem to be beating down on him unmercifully. Glancing at the Indian girl, he saw she was watching him.
    "How long have you been in New Mexico, major?"
    "Six months."
    "The sun burns hot here. It is not wise to drink too much when you have been out in the heat for any length of time."
    His eyes glinted. Did she think he was a complete fool? He started to reply, when the girl turned to one of the old Indian men and spoke to him in words Kane did not understand. The man nodded and mounted his horse, riding back the way they had just traveled.
    Kane looked at the Indian girl questioningly.
    "We are being followed, major. Whoever it is is keeping well behind us, but I have known about them for the last hour. I warn you, if it turns out to be your soldiers who are following us, I will not take you to Mangas."
    "I gave no order for my men to follow us. Whoever it is, it's not soldiers."
    Maleaha looked at him doubtfully, but said nothing. Lamas would find out who was trailing them.
    Lamas soon rejoined them, and spoke rapidly to Maleaha. She gave Kane a scorching look and bounded onto the back of her horse with fluid grace. Kane quickly remounted his horse and rode hard to try and catch up with her. Just as he drew even with her she swerved her mount off to the side and pulled up behind some bushes. As she slid from the back of her horse, she motioned for Kane to follow her.
    "What's this all about?" he demanded as he dismounted.
    "Hush, major. I told you we were being followed. You played me false. Did you really think I would not detect your men? I have no intentions of allowing your soldiers to find out where Mangas's village is located."
    "If we are being followed, it's not by the cavalry," he ground out between clenched teeth.
    She placed her hands on her hips and leveled a green gaze at him. "Lamas may be old, but his eyesight is impeccable. He tells me no less then six of your men are following at a discreet distance, major. This is where you and I part company!"
    In one graceful motion she mounted her horse, but she was prevented from leaving by Kane's hand on her reins.
    "Wait! I know nothing about this. I swear to you this is not my doing.
    Maleaha hesitated for a moment. He seemed so sincere, she could almost believe him. It was imperative that the army talk with Mangas to avoid bloodshed. If he was telling the truth . . . ? "Show your good faith then, major. We ride hard to lose your men." She jerked her reins free from his grasp, and kicked her horse in the flanks, leaving Kane no choice but to remount and ride after her. They rode in the direction of the distant mountains. Riding through mesas and winding through gullies, they finally reached the foothills. There they dismounted and led their horses up the steep incline. When they reached the other side, one of the old men gathered up the reins and led the horses away to hide them.
    Lying on her stomach, Maleaha looked toward the north. Kane lay down beside her and watched for riders. He hoped she had been mistaken. He didn't want to think that the colonel had gone behind his back and sent men to follow him.
    "Major, I am constantly amazed by the white man's stupidity."
    Kane felt the sting of her words, but said nothing. What could he say if she proved to be correct?
    "Your men go blundering around, thinking they could go undetected. If I knew they were behind us, what chance do you think they would have had when we neared the Jojoba village? Mangas would have known about them before they were within twenty miles of his camp."
    "How did you know we were being followed? I was unaware of it."
    "Don't feel too bad, major. I am an Indian, remember?" She turned back to her vigil, then smiled as six blue-clad soldiers emerged over the distant mesa. They were riding about in confusion, trying to pick up the trail that