Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) Read Online Free

candidate.
    Unaware she was in Celia’s line of
fire, Claudette continued to ask questions of Broken Horse, “You
represent the Comanche in the talks?”
    “ Yes, I speak for Lone Eagle
when we parlay with the white leaders.” Broken Horse met her gaze
squarely.
    Claudette nodded affably. “You
mentioned Celia had been back east. Where?”
    “ Charleston. She went to
school there and worked as a nurse.”
    Celia rubbed her temple where the
tension centered. “I can speak for myself, thank you,” she snapped.
Pinning Broken Horse with one cool stare, Celia then turned to
Claudette. “Yes, I went to the white man’s school and got an
education. Amazed?” Celia cocked her head. “Or perhaps, you’re just
wondering how a Comanche half-breed got accepted into a white man’s
school, hum?” She winced inwardly with the sarcastic attack.
Assumption was dangerous. The woman hadn’t given her reason to
think Claudette saw her as nothing more than a Comanche.
    Claudette’s smile never faltered as her
eyes traveled from her to Broken Horse and back again in intrigued
attention. “I am pleasantly surprised to be honest. It’s not every
day I get to hold a conversation with not one but two Comanche. The
fact you managed to learn our language and gain an education is
quite spectacular.” Glancing from one cousin to another, Claudette
broke the awkward silence. “Come now. I mean no harm. I’m impressed
to say the least. How long were you in Charleston?”
    Her blue eyes moved slowly over Celia
taking in every detail with a smooth and surmising scan. It wasn’t
the first time Celia had witnessed the open curiosity in someone’s
eyes.
    “ Almost twelve years.” Guilt
started to pry at her will.
    “ Well, my dear,” Claudette
said, showing a newfound interest in Celia. “You must have some
wonderful stories to tell. We would love to hear all about them.
Wouldn’t we, Seth?” Claudette peered up at his ruggedly handsome
face as he returned.
    “ Indeed we would.” Seth
offered the glass to Celia, his face as unreadable as ever. “Here
now.”
    The contact with his fingers was like a
brand she could feel to the depths of her soul. Desperation danced
in her stomach. He was too close. His eyes were too blue, his face
too gorgeous to believe. With the glass in both hands, she managed
to produce yet another embarrassing moment by spilling water down
the front of her suit.
    “ Oh, dear. Seth, get me a
napkin,” Claudette ordered.
    Celia recovered enough to
dab at the water and murmur a feeble “thank you” when he handed her
his own handkerchief. With a flick of a glance upward, Celia found
him watching her with a keenness, which set her pulse to racing.
His face was as bland as unleavened bread. With nothing more than
his cool regard, Seth had the color in her face rising once
more. Damn him…
    Claudette peered closely at Celia once
more. “Her eyes are clear now and her cheeks are pink again. She’s
going to be all right.” Claudette announced and patted Celia’s arm.
“She needs something to eat though.” Seeking agreement from Broken
Horse, Claudette announced emphatically. “You’ll both dine with
us.”
    Celia’s eyes grew wide.
“ No! ” and reached
for Broken Horse’s arm. “That’s very kind of you, but…”
    “ We’re grateful to you both
for your help, but...” Broken Horse said. Celia didn’t know if he’d
read the trepidation in her face or remembered the time it would
take to get to Lone Eagle’s camp, but she was grateful for his next
words. “We have a long trip ahead of us still and it’s getting
late.”
    “ Nonsense! We insist on your
company,” Claudette stated firmly.
    With the blonde’s emphatic response,
Celia fell in behind her cousin and Claudette and let Seth lead her
to the dining hall.
    At the entrance, their progress ceased,
halted by a male resembling a boney scarecrow. The skinny fellow
wore a drab, gray suit and was emaciated enough to be a skeleton.
His