Jayne Ann Krentz Dreams, Part 1 Harlequin Temptation, No. 229 by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

home and proudly
    installed her in his bed. But he’d made a slight miscalculation.“
    “The lady didn’t like being kidnapped and carried away from her home and family?“
    “She took strong exception to the whole situation. Under normal circumstances, her feelings on the subject would
    have been disregarded by all concerned. But in her case, her new husband couldn’t totally overlook her opinion
    because she came from a very unusual clan. One in which the women were warriors. Not only that, but the females of
    the clan had learned how to control their reproductive cycles.“
    “Aha. In other words, she knew something about birth control and she refused to get pregnant. Good for her.“
    “Wait until you hear the end of the story before you start applauding.“
    Diana frowned at his back. “Is it going to have a happy ending?“
    “No, it’s not. Listen well, my sweet, and learn that female stubbornness doesn’t pay off in the long run.“
    “Spoken like a modern-day chauvinist warrior type,“ Diana muttered.
    Colby ignored her. “When several months of nightly effort on the part of our valiant warrior did not pay off, he
    finally realized his new bride was deliberately sabotaging his big plans to produce a mighty son and heir.“
    “And he was annoyed?“
    “To put it mildly. He tried the usual beatings and threats, and when that didn’t work, he decided the lady would
    come to her senses if she spent a little time alone in the cave behind the falls.“
    Diana’s eyes widened. “He chained her in that cave you told me about?“
    Colby nodded. “So the story goes.“ He leaped lightly down to another rocky ledge and had to dodge Specter who
    was bounding down the hillside ahead of him. “Out of my way, you dumb dog,“ Colby muttered through his teeth.
    Specter paid no attention.
    “Stop maligning my dog, and tell me the rest of the story,“ Diana demanded.
    Colby reached back to steady her. “Well, he stuck her in the cave and told her that she could come out only when
    she conceived.“
    “How awful.“
    “Every day just before sunset he came to her. He brought her food and made love to her and then he left her to
    face the darkness alone.“
    “You mean he raped her on a daily basis!“
    Colby’s eyebrows rose thoughtfully. “Yeah, that’s probably what it amounted to, because the lady still refused to
    allow herself to become pregnant. And after a time she even refused to eat the food he brought her. All the while she
    was plotting, trying to figure out a way to get rid of her unwanted husband. One evening she saw her chance.“
    Diana looked up. “A chance to escape?“
    “No,“ Colby said grimly. “A way to kill the warrior. She set a trap for him by pretending to surrender. He was so
    relieved to think he’d finally quelled her stubborn resistance that he apparently forgot just what kind of female he was
    dealing with. In his haste to get started on making a son, he got careless. Inexcusably careless, considering he was
    supposed to be a hotshot warrior.“
    “What happened?“
    “The lady got hold of his hunting knife and she used it on him just as he was, uh, reaching the grand finale.“
    “She stabbed him to death while he was forcing himself on her,“ Diana concluded in awed wonder. “What a
    woman…“
    “This story isn’t over yet,“ Colby warned. “I told you that it doesn’t have a happy ending.“
    “Finish it,“ Diana urged, anxious to hear the conclusion.
    “The warrior died at her feet, his blood running out of the cave entrance and mingling with the waterfall. With his
    last breath, he cursed the woman. Told her that her spirit would remain chained in the cave forever until a child was
    conceived and born there.“
    “Then he croaked, and she managed to get out of the cave?“ Diana demanded.
    “She was still chained, don’t forget. She had no way to get free after she’d killed the warrior. She died there, and
    the legend says her spirit is still