Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 50



THADDEUS KOHLER SENT Brandi and Rachel to the community house to prepare lunch for the village men, but left Melisse alone in the field where the women had dug tubers all morning. The day was crisp and cool, but Melisse's cheeks were flushed and a sheen of perspiration covered her skin from the effort of digging into the hard ground. He stood before her.

“You must hate men for what they did to you,” he said, feet wide and hands on hips.

She looked up at him and then stood, rubbing her hands against her cargo pants to brush away the dirt. It didn’t surprise her to see him, not after the way he'd looked at her in the community house that morning. “Those men were the enemy. I hated them—and we killed them before we left the area.”

“So you don't hold such brutality against my sex?”

“Yours isn't the only sex capable of brutality.” She thought about how much to tell him, how useful it might be to have him as an ally. Very useful. “In fact, I have a child. A daughter. Age five.”

His brow lifted. “And a husband?”

She let her gaze slide over him slowly. She'd known better looking men...and worse. It wasn't the first time she used a man's weakness to survive. “I have no husband,” she said. “As for the father, I don't know where he is. We didn't get along all that well.”

He regarded her curiously. “Why?”

She met his gaze steadily, and when she spoke, her voice sounded husky. “He was weak. Too weak for me.”

He took the iron spade from her hand. “Do you think to lull me with your tempting words and sultry looks and then put this blade between my ribs as I come to you like a lamb?”

She took back the spade and then tossed it on the ground. “You're no lamb, Kohler. And my thoughts about you were far different from that. But now”—she shrugged one shoulder—“I've changed my mind.”

She walked away, but when she reached a stand of aspen, he stopped her and held her arm. She let him.

“You claim to like me now?” He adopted a mocking jeer.

She stepped backwards, deeper into the trees. “Like you? Not hardly. I don't trust you.”

He moved closer. “How can you not trust me? You've seen these men. I’m the one who controls them…so far.”

Disgust filled her face, and her next words were calculated. “So far? And here I thought you were strong.”

She raised her chin as if daring him to come nearer. He took up the dare, so close she could feel his breath meet hers. Then, as if his hand had a will of its own, he reached out and touched her cheek, her neck, her collar bone. “I saved you,” he said, his voice a raspy whisper, “from the beasts, from a branding, from the others. And now, it is I who have become a prisoner.”

“A prisoner?”

“To you, woman! My own men mock me for my weakness.”

“You lie,” she sneered, and placed her hands on his chest. “Everything you say is a lie. You feel nothing for me.”

He put his arms around her. “Am I lying now?”

“What will your men say?”

“They mean nothing. You want this as much as I do.”

“I don't.”

“Then why is your breathing heavy, your heart racing?” His hands spanned her waist then jerked her hips against his. “If you truly wanted me to walk away now, I would know it.”

She placed her hands on his shoulders. “I despise you.”

“As I do you. And I could have killed you time and again, but I didn't. Tell me that's a lie, too.” He kissed her ear, her neck, but as he sought her mouth, she turned her head from a peculiar smell, almost of decay, that seemed to emanate from him. His hand went to her breast. “Tell me,” he said.

She ran her fingers through his hair, then gripped and pulled it tight enough to inflict pain, enough to heighten his desire. “We both lie,” she whispered.

He emitted a deep growl and pushed her to the ground. He hovered over her and unfastened her trousers. She began to unbuttoned his shirt, but had only opened two buttons when a gold necklace with a red pendant stone slipped free. “What is this strange jewel you wear?”

Shocked, he drew back.

“Is it a gift from a lady friend?” she purred. “Or something you stole.” She took the stone in her hand. It felt warm, and began to glow.

“No!” He jerked it away from her, sitting up as his eyes leaped from her to the stone. His face filled with conflicting emotions of desire and horror.

“What is it?” She demanded as she sat up.

“Nothing.” He stood and rebuttoned his shirt, hiding the stone once more. “Get back to the community house. You need to help the others prepare supper.”

He turned toward the forest, then stopped and faced her again. “This between us,” he said, “is not over.”

She remained seated on the ground, puzzled over what had just happened.