Page 67 of My Heart Will Find You

“It’s one of the houses the government built for the Kanzas.”

She looked at him in question.

“The Kanza tribe, also called Kaw? Kansas is named for them.” He could see that she’d never heard of them. “They’re a nomadic tribe, not farmers, but our government thought they could change them. The government built stone houses, gave them to the Kanzas, and told them to start planting crops.” He nodded to the house. “The Kanzas thought the houses were horrible, dirty things. They took off the wood to use for fires, put their ponies inside, and lived in their nice, clean lodges. Then they went back to hunting buffalo, just as they’d done for centuries.”

Etta drew in her breath. “But when the buffalo are gone, what do they do?”

“The government will feed them and take away what they are.” He nodded in agreement at Etta’s look of horror. “We need to go.”

When Max helped her into the saddle, Etta groaned.

“Want to call this off?” he asked. “We could go to Kansas City and stay in the best hotel for a week. I’ll buy you clothes, and we’ll eat the finest beef in the world. And we’ll make love from early to late.”

Etta sighed. “Oh yes! I mean no. I mean afterward, yes.”

“Promise?”

“With all my heart.” She meant it. As Max mounted his horse, she whispered, “I hate you, Wyatt Earp. Deeply and trulyhateyou.”

The morning ride seemed to go on forever. Max led them around a prairie dog village. She knew that if a horse stepped in one of the holes, a leg would be broken, but what she didn’t know was that rattlesnakes loved the warmth of the holes. Max took the reins from her and led her past the danger.

The sight of him riding in front of her became familiar. She liked knowing he was close. That he’d agreed to do this for her, with her, still amazed her.

The sex they’d had was good, but there was something else and she wasn’t sure what it was.

Max turned to look at her. “Are you all right?”

She smiled. “I’m doing quite well.”

Minutes later, he stopped by a wide stream. “We need a rest.” His eyes were telling her that he wanted more than “rest.” That was fine with her!

He helped her down and she limped to the stream. She wanted to strip off and go skinny-dipping. The other half of the glorious fertility of Kansas sunshine was making her sweat.

But she knew they didn’t have time to dally. As soon as she sat down beside him, they began kissing.

When the earth rumbled beneath her, she pulled back. “What in the world is that? An earthquake?”

Max put his hand on her chin and moved her face back to his. “Just buffalo.” He kissed her.

She pulled away. “Buffalo? They’re making the earth tremble?”

“Sure.” He started to kiss her again.

But Etta leaned away. “How many are there?”

“Ten or twelve, I guess.” He bent toward her.

She leaned way back. “How big are those things that ten or twelve of them can do that?” She put her hand to the ground. “I can feel them.”

He laughed. “Thousand. There are ten or twelvethousandof them. Maybe more.”

Etta’s face drained of color. “I have to see them.” She stood up. “I must,mustsee them. Like life, I have to. See. Them. Now. Let’s go!”

They were becoming so familiar with each other that she expected his usual hesitation. She liked that he thought things through before agreeing to do them.

But this time, he didn’t hesitate. “I’d like to see them too.” They ran to the horses, and he pulled off her hat and shoved it into a saddlebag. “You don’t want to lose that.”

Etta groaned as she threw her leg over the saddle, but pain didn’t stop her. The ground was rumbling even more. It was vibrating. Quivering.

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