Page 8 of Shadows of Eternity

After the kidnapping, her parents had kept a close eye on her. She had been tutored at home until high school, not allowed to date until she was sixteen. Her parents had enrolled her in a number of self-defense classes, had her trained in the use of firearms. She’d had little freedom until she went to college. Her memories of the kidnapping had faded over the years, but her distrust of strangers remained. He was surprised she had agreed to go out with him.

He fed quickly, then returned to his lair, more determined than ever to see the lovely Leia again.

Chapter Four

Leia smiled at her students as they burst into the classroom on Monday morning, laughing and giggling as only five-year-olds can. Twenty adorable children, eleven girls and nine boys, and she adored them all. She had always wanted an older sister. Of course, having an older brother was nice, and she loved Luke, but there were some things you could only share with another girl. She hoped to one day have lots of kids of her own.

After spending time with Rohan, Leia had decided to give her kids a lesson about Indians, especially the Lakota Nation. Before going to bed last night, she had scoured the Internet for facts about the Lakota people.

Naturally, in doing so, she had learned a lot more than she had time to teach. She was fascinated by what she had learned. She had never really wondered how Native Americans lived, but she had discovered that in the old days, the Lakota had lived in close-knit families, with men and women having different responsibilities.

Men did the hunting. They were responsible for protecting the village, as well as tribal ceremonies and rituals. They also taught the young men how to hunt and track and helped them prepare for their vision quests.

Women raised the children and taught them the Four Great Virtues of Life, which were bravery, fortitude, generosity andwisdom. Women also grew the crops and tanned the hides which were used for making clothing and lodges. They also cared for the sick.

Leia took what she’d learned and came up with a lesson her class could easily understand. And they loved it. She taught them how to say a few words in Lakota.Pilamaya, meant thank you.Kolameant friend,Haumeant hello,Wakanmeant holy.

She felt like her lesson had been a success when she heard the kids using some of the words the next day during class, pleased when they wanted to learn more.

The rest of the week flew by. At home on Friday after work, Leia kicked off her shoes and dropped down on the sofa. She hadn’t heard from Rohan. She tried not to be disappointed. It had only been one date, after all. It was obvious he wasn’t interested in another one. Too bad, she thought, because she was surely interested in him.

She tried not to let it get her down, but she was depressed just the same. Other than the fathers of her students, who were off-limits, she didn’t meet many single men. As for the few she’d gone out with in the last year, one date had been enough. Apparently that was how Rohan felt about her, she thought glumly. One and done.

Shuffling into the kitchen, she decided to indulge in a hot fudge sundae. If she gained a few pounds, what difference did it make?

She carried the ice cream into the living room. The rest of the day stretched before her. She could always clean her apartment, she thought, licking whip crème from her lips. Or goto a movie. Or shopping. Sadly, none of those options appealed to her.

With nothing better to do, she switched on the TV, surfing through the channels looking for something to occupy her for an hour or two. She paused when she came to a Western. It was one she’d never seen, but that wasn’t surprising since she preferred romantic comedies and there was nothing funny about the Old West, just lots of gunfights and Indian attacks.

Still, she found herself caught up in the story of a white girl who made friends with a Cheyenne boy when she was just a little girl. As the story unfolded, the two grew up and fell in love, and after facing many hardships, they married and had children of their own.

Leia sighed as she switched off the TV. The actor in the movie had reminded her of Rohan. What would it have been like if they’d met back in the 1800s when the only good Indian was a dead Indian? Would people have looked down their noses at her for being in love with an Indian? Would her own people have shunned her? Would she have cared?

With a shake of her head, she went into the kitchen and dropped her bowl into the dishwasher. She was about to call Janae and see if there was any chance she could get away long enough to go out to dinner or bowling when her cell phone rang. Closing her eyes, she sent a quick prayer to heaven, praying the caller was Rohan. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Hello?”

“Leia, how are you?”

His voice caressed her, making her heart soar. “I’m fine. How are you?”

“Lonesome. I know it’s short notice, but any chance I could take you out later tonight?”

She clamped her lips together, cutting off the quick “Yes” that rose in her throat. She didn’t want him to think she had justbeen sitting around waiting for his call. “Don’t you have to dance tonight?”

“I took the night off, hoping you weren’t busy.”

“Oh.” Butterflies of excitement fluttered in the pit of her stomach at the thought of seeing him again.

“What do you say?”

“All right. Where did you want to go?”

“Anywhere you’d like,” he said in that soft, seductive voice. “Dining, dancing, the movies?”

“There’s a new movie at the Roxy that I’ve been wanting to see.”

“Should I pick you up? Or do we need to take separate cars again?”

She laughed softly.

---