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she was being led into another devastating disappointment, she had refused
to accept anything Case said at face value. She had looked for flaws in his
plan and tried to quell her anger at him for having allowed Sun Hawk to
walk away.
He should have forced Sun Hawk to take him to Skylar, at gunpoint if
necessary, instead of confronting him unarmed. He said he had released Sun
Hawk to earn the brave s trust, but it seemed like ridiculous manly bravado to
Rayna. If Case s actions cost her the only chance she might have to find
Skylar, Rayna would find a way to make him pay for it.
Meade s attempts to calm her down and reason with her hadn t worked,
and some of her anger with Case had spilled over onto him. He had made
love to her last night with a passion that was heartbreakingly tender at times
and at other times breathtakingly tempestuous. He had kept his promise to
wake up with no regrets, but the sweet words they had exchanged that morn-
ing didn t change the way she felt that afternoon.
As they neared the ridge, Rayna caught Meade looking at her a number of
times, but she ignored him. If she looked at him, he would probably give her a
tender look of understanding that would disarm her completely, and she was-
n t ready to be disarmed. She needed her anger if she was going to survive
another disillusionment.
They reached the base of the ridge, but before they began climbing, Case
stopped and dismounted.
What are you doing? Rayna asked.
The horses need rest, he told her.
She started to protest as she patted Triton s lathered neck, but she bit back
the ridiculous complaint. As usual, he was right, and even that irritated her.
She climbed down and joined Case and Meade. How far to the ravine?
Thirty minutes, maybe a little less, Case replied. We don t want to arrive
too early, or Sun Hawk may suspect that we re there to lay a trap.
She wanted to ask again what made him so positive that Sun Hawk would
even be there, but she restrained herself. No matter what he replied, she
wouldn t believe it, so it was pointless to question him. She slipped her can-
teen off the saddle horn and drank, then let Triton have some water, too. The
men followed suit, and Meade looked over at Case.
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Do you think one of us should take to the hills just in case Sun Hawk
decides to try an ambush?
No. If he doesn t see all three of us coming in, he ll think we re the ones
setting a trap. We ll leave the horses at the mouth of the ravine and walk in.
It s the only way.
Meade accepted his decision and was surprised when Rayna didn t take the
opportunity to argue. All right. We ll do it your way.
Case looked at Rayna. There is one thing you must do, though.
She squared her shoulders and faced him belligerently. If you re going to
tell me I have to wait behind or stay in the background like a good little girl,
you can just go
Take off your hat and unbind your hair, he said, cutting her off. From a
distance Sun Hawk thought you were a man. I want him to see that I didn t lie,
and the sight of your hair will make you much easier for Skylar to recognize.
It was a reasonable request, and she was happy to comply. She was less
happy about having to apologize because she suddenly felt ashamed of her
cantankerous behavior. I m sorry I snapped at you. Case. She sighed heavily.
I know I haven t given you much reason to believe this, but I do appreciate
everything you ve done for my sister.
She s my sister, too, he said calmly.
Rayna felt her ire rising again as a burst of uncontrollable jealousy swept
through her. So you keep reminding me.
Case frowned slightly, regarding her more with curiosity than with dis-
pleasure. Why does knowing that Morning Star is my sister trouble you
so much?
Because I don t know any Morning Star. I only know my sister, Skylar.
And you ve never had to share her with anyone, have you? he asked quietly.
Rayna felt unwanted tears stinging her eyes, and she hated the weakness at
a time when she needed all the strength she possessed. No, I haven t, and I m
not sure I like the idea, she said crossly. You have a blood tie to her that I can
never share.
Case nodded slowly. And you have had her love for twenty years. You
have seen her smiles and heard her laughter. You know what makes her cry,
what she dreams of, and where she goes when she is sad. I have nothing but a
memory of a bright-eyed little girl who made arrows out of sticks and brought
joy to the hearts of all who knew her. He paused a moment when he saw the
twin tears that carved a path down Rayna s face, but he couldn t stop himself
from adding, It is I who should be jealous of you.
Damn you, she whispered as a sob escaped her control. Damn you. The
tears came in a rush and nearly buckled her over, but Meade was there to hold
her up. She turned to him, resting her forehead on his chest until she con-
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quered the tears. Case s words made her feel selfish and small. Resenting him
for loving Skylar as much as she did was so wrong.
When Rayna finally collected herself and turned back to Case, her resent-
ment of him was gone.
Skylar goes to a place called the Enchanted Mesa to weave her dreams,
she told him, her voice as soft as a sigh. And she feels sad only when she
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