You will lie beside me.” “But what about Amy?” “Your…

““You will lie beside me.” “But what about Amy?” “Your Aye-mee is with my mother, yes? The woman who is mean like a buffalo. She is safe. You will be easy about her until the sun shows its face.” His voice turned husky. “ Keemah , come.” “I--I’d really like to check on her. She fainted, Hunter. I want to know she’s okay. I won’t rest until I know that.” “If she were not, my mother would come. My mother has good medicine, yes? And she is very kind. You will trust.” He stretched out an arm and watched the myriad emotions that crossed her face as she contemplated the spot beside him. She had slept beside him before, many times, but tonight was different. There was nothing to stop him from taking what he wanted. She had even bargained away her right to fight him. What she didn’t seem to realize was that there had never been anything to stop him. “ Keemah. ” When at last she scooted over to him, Hunter experienced a feeling like none he had ever felt. It went beyond satisfaction, beyond contentment. Having her fair head on his shoulder felt perfectly right, as if the Great Ones had hollowed the spot for her long ago, and he had been waiting all his life for her to fill it. He curled his arm around her, his hand on her back. “It is good, eh?” She placed a palm lightly on his chest. In a dubious tone she replied, “Yes, it is good.””

— Catherine Anderson