Never Surrender Read online

  Contents

  NEVER SURRENDER

  By

  Deanna Jewel

  ISBN: 978-1-45245-434-4

  Copyright © 2009 Terry L. Blankenship

  Cover Art: 2010 Swallowtail Productions, LLC

  Cover Images: ©RomanceNovelCovers.com,

  ©iStock.com

  Dedication

  I would like to dedicate this book to my family and daughters, Lisa and Lauren, who stood behind me during the writing of this work and always believed that one day I would be in print. Thank you so much for your love, understanding and encouragement and for putting up with me during vacations to Wyoming and the constant quizzing on history as we traveled.

  Thank you to fellow author, Patricia A. Rasey, for your critiques during the writing of this work. Your input and suggestions only made the use of my senses more intense. I miss you immensely.

  Thank you to Millie Ingram for your critiques in the final edits of this work and for helping me to correct the remaining mistakes that were still there after so many other edits. I loved your input.

  Thank you to Jon Dayley, Professor of Linguistics at Boise State University for translating some of my dialogue to the Shoshone language. We talked a long time ago but I knew one day I’d be able to thank you. You helped add life to my characters and make my dream become a reality. I am forever grateful.

  To the Shoshone Nation, I hope I have given a fair view of your people and your language, thank you.

  To my husband, John, I thank you for your continued support and encouragement for me to never give up my dream of being published. You have made so many dreams happen for me. I love you!

  Chapter One

  July, 1997 Dubois, Wyoming

  Katelyn Bradach shaded her eyes and glanced around in awe at the western town, just one more of several she hoped to tour. Managing the historical museum, especially the Native American section, back in Pennsylvania had stressed her this year and this laidback town would help her relax.

  Perhaps her haunting nightmares would subside now, hoping they were just a carryover from her job. Too often she’d dreamed of a warrior who sat atop a sleek black horse as thick mist from the lake swirled around him. The surrounding valley lay nestled before two snow-capped mountains. She could never clearly see his features, but his dark hair touched the middle of his bare chest and two eagle feathers hung from his headband. He always appeared to stare at her, but never once did he nudge his horse to move closer, yet one hand reached out to her.

  Though she couldn’t make out the color of his eyes, his gaze sent her heart racing, made her breath catch in her throat. The dream always left her with sensual tingles along her moist skin each time she woke up. The passion created by the dream disturbed her, since nothing ever happened except when their gazes met. Then it was as though she could read his thoughts of how much he needed her, wanted her for his own. She would always wake up trembling and out of breath but the dream never changed nor finished.

  Would she find her warrior out here? Something had drawn her west, yet she couldn’t put her finger on it but the pull was extraordinary.

  Strolling along the wooden walkways, the heels of her dark snakeskin boots echoed. The design of the mid-1800s town looked like a movie set from an old western and it suited Kate. She smiled as she looked around at the peaceful town. The warm morning air smelled of fresh rain and held a hint of sagebrush. An old stagecoach rumbled by, rocking on the huge iron wheels, and three youngsters sat on top joyously waving to their parents who waited at the ticket area.

  The large window of the local Mercantile General Store displayed Native American-made moccasins, colorful dream catchers and jewelry, cowboy hats and boots. Kate stepped in and joined the few customers who milled about the wooden-floored store. The smell of leather came from the boots and saddlebags in the tack area on her left. After browsing over linens, knickknacks, and souvenirs, she headed toward a rack of sweatshirts near the checkout.

  A deep velvety voice froze Kate and she rested her hand atop a sweatshirt. Familiarity astounded her as she listened. Her heart raced as though she’d just awakened from the dream and those images of the warrior atop his horse flooded her mind’s eye. Was it possible for souls to travel through time and reunite more than one hundred years later? She supposed anything was possible when one believed in soul reincarnation.

  “Thank you,” the man said in an unhurried manner. “I’ve been waiting a long time for these.”

  A sack crinkled. He must have picked it up, she thought.

  “Any time, Brandon, you know I’m more than happy to do what I can for you,” the sales girl said.

  At the sound of his retreating boot steps, still breathless, Kate glanced over her shoulder in the man’s direction. The sales girl didn’t bother to hide her dreamy stare as she watched the man saunter toward the door. A dark brown duster draped his tall frame, a matching Stetson upon his head. Straight, black hair hung past his shoulders. Something about the stranger made her body tingle the same way her dream affected her. Realization hit. Could there be some connection?

  Kate’s heart pounded, and she could barely breathe. She took a few moments to compose herself, then glanced back at the sales girl and waited for her attention. “Who is he?”

  “Brandon Wakiza. His Shoshone heritage gives him those handsome dark features and every unmarried woman in Dubois is vying for his attention, but he mostly keeps to himself on his ranch. He usually only comes into town once a week.” The girl placed Brandon Wakiza’s money in the register.

  Kate thanked her and stepped out onto the wooden walkway as she mulled over her reaction to a total stranger. That he should cause her heart go out of control and make her unable to breathe was ridiculous. Those reactions only happened in her dream. She glanced up and down the street. The man was nowhere to be found. Both relief and disappointment shifted through her. She took a deep breath and decided not to dwell on the stranger. She was here to relax and get away from her life for a while. A gift shop of Indian articles caught her eye. Putting thoughts of the stranger behind her, Kate opened the door.

  She gasped.

  Brandon Wakiza stood not three feet away.

  Again, Kate couldn’t breathe. Who was he and why did his presence have such an effect on her? She watched him as a sense of familiarity shrouded her. He looked so much like the sensual warrior in her dream who watched her from afar though she’d never seen his eyes in her dream. Her pulse raced as pieces of her dream floated through her mind like a haunting mist.

  Brandon Wakiza counted money, his long, work-roughened fingers stretched out. Nodding at something the clerk said, a smile firmed the muscles of his chiseled jaw; the brim of his hat blocked his eyes from her view. He placed the rest of his change into his snug pants pocket, drawing Kate’s glance down to the sinewy thighs beneath the close-fitting jeans. She’d hate to be caught staring but he was gorgeous.

  When she looked up from his sinewy thighs, she was unprepared for the shock of meeting his gaze full-force. Kate reached out for the counter for support. The blue of his eyes penetrated clear to her soul, calling to her. Tiny hairs stood up on the back of her neck. It was as though the two of them communicated without words, almost being pulled toward one another. Was he the man from her dream? He looked back at her for a long, intense moment, and then he smiled. For that moment, she felt he knew her deepest thoughts and her cheeks heated.

  To her surprise, he spoke to her. “Do I know you? You look so familiar, like we’ve met before. Perhaps the spirits have guided you to me.”

  “No, I’m just here on vacation.” She smiled, but wished with all her heart she’d met him before. Then again, maybe the spirits did guide her here. Crossing behind him to the back of the store, sh
e continued shopping but she’d never forget his blue eyes. The spicy scent of his cologne surrounded her. A scent she would forever link to this unknown stranger. Her spine still tingled as she thought of her warrior and the way he made her skin damp each time she’d woken up, wanting more of him, needing him to touch her, but the dream never went that far. She longed for those touches, and then fantasized about the stranger touching her, his fingers tingling along her skin, and her nipples tightened. Taking a deep breath, Kate tried to ignore those around her.

  After Brandon moved toward the door, Kate stepped forward to look at something on the counter. The Native American clerk watched her though he kept busy.

  Kate laid a beaded necklace on the counter and fumbled in her purse for money. “I’m traveling through on vacation. Is there an area around here with a lake near two mountains?” She prayed he would give her at least some information about the location she sought and not send her to another town. If she found the lake with the two mountains then she’d know she was closer to finding the meaning of her dream. The connection she felt toward Brandon easily compared to what she felt for her warrior. Hoping she was correct, Kate anxiously waited for the clerk’s directions.

  His eyes lit up like lanterns within his weathered face as he rung up her sale. “That would be Brook’s Lake, north of town beyond Union Pass.”

  Excited, Kate pressed further. “Can you tell me anything about the petroglyphs on a boulder in the hills south of town? I saw them as I drove around earlier.” From her work at the museum, petroglyphs were a big part of the Indian culture centuries ago.

  “You speak of Whiskey Basin. The markings have been there for centuries. There are more paintings up in that area. Be careful wandering around those parts, though. The rocks can be dangerous for someone climbing alone.”

  “Thank you, I’ll be careful. I’m anxious to see them up close.” Kate quickly placed her change back into her purse as she headed toward the door. An uncanny sense of being watched made her glance up in time to stop herself from crashing into Brandon where he leaned against the door frame.

  She stared into his blue eyes in silence for nearly a full minute, still feeling the electrical charge between them. She wanted to speak but couldn’t.

  He smiled and spoke first. “I’m Brandon Wakiza. I couldn’t help but hear you ask about Brook’s Lake and the petroglyphs at Whiskey Basin. I know this area like the back of my hand and I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about the petroglyphs.”

  “Thank you. I’m Kate Bradach.” Brandon’s presence definitely influenced her reactions, making her feel like a wanton. But why? She had to find out and what better way than to spend time with him in town. Kate gave the handsome stranger a sideways glance. She smiled and took a deep breath, scolding herself for being so ridiculous. “I do have a few questions.”

  Brandon stepped out of her way and held the door open.

  His hand touched her waist as he ushered her out the door and she caught her breath. Calming herself, she stepped onto the wooden sidewalk unable to believe her luck. Thoughts of the warrior reincarnated drifted through her brain. Her heart raced with excitement thinking she may have found him.

  “I manage a Native American department at a museum back in Pennsylvania and I find everything about their cultures so interesting. I’d love to hear whatever you can tell me about the petroglyphs at Whiskey Basin.”

  He smiled down at her. “There are many legends about the Basin and how the drawings came to be. Of course, we’ll never really know. They’re just stories passed down from our elders. I belong to the Shoshone Nation. We’ve been in this area for hundreds of years.”

  Gazing into a shop window, she saw a beautiful lodge pole bed. “That’s gorgeous. I’d love to have furniture like that but it would be so out of place back in Pittsburgh.” Kate noticed the sales tag on the bed and leaned closer to see it. The tag showed the name of the company, then the builder’s name – Brandon Wakiza. Her gazed quickly met his.

  He presented her with a full smile. “All this is hand-made by Red Bird Furniture at the north end of town. I’m good friends with the owner and we built all this furniture ourselves,” Brandon said with pride. “I’ve also furnished my home with it.”

  “The furniture is beautiful. I love that this type of furniture is like bringing a bit of nature indoors.”

  “We’ve had movie stars purchase from us and people as far away as Alaska and New York. Most of our business is by word of mouth so their friends have called too.”

  Kate and Brandon walked on, heading back toward her Trailblazer. As they walked, he slipped off his duster and slung it over his shoulder, wafting the spicy scent of his cologne her way. Smiling to herself, she still couldn’t believe she might be with the warrior from her dreams.

  “You’re very easy to talk to,” she said, pushing up the sleeves of her sweatshirt from her wrists. Tourists over-dressed as cowboys passed them, their gazes taking in the length of her. She smiled at them as they strolled by but chuckled to herself at their silly outfits.

  Gently biting her lower lip, she took in a deep breath of sagebrush-scented air and enjoyed her walk with Brandon. He seemed to be very genuine in helping to answer her questions. She remembered the muscled thighs beneath the taut blue jeans as the breeze brought the scent of his cologne her way. Brandon definitely had an effect on her senses.

  She quickly glanced at Brandon, hoping he didn’t notice the heated blush creeping up her neck to her face. Why did his very presence create the reaction she had experienced in the Mercantile General Store? Or worse yet, her reaction to him in the second store when his blue eyes penetrated to her very soul? She definitely couldn’t tell Brandon why she was in town, he’d think she was nuts.

  She couldn’t wait to call her friend, Monica, to tell her who was with her and to discuss the change in her dream last night. The warrior had actually coaxed his horse forward toward her. That had never happened in the dream. Monica had encouraged her to come out west to see if the area might hold the answers that she sought, but it held way more than that for Kate. Her mind raced with anticipation at what this new friendship with Brandon might mean, though it was all too soon to tell yet.

  Kate looked around. “People back in Pittsburgh have no idea this way of life still exists here in America; it even surprises me. No one hurries, or is rushing to an appointment, or making a mad dash for a parking spot. The slower pace agrees with me; it’s a nice change from home.”

  Kate stopped at her Trailblazer, hating that she would soon have to say goodbye as she glanced up at Brandon. God, he was handsome. His blue gaze entranced her, making her speechless, yet there were so many questions she wanted answers to. “This is my car. I should go now. I’d like to head over to Whiskey Basin.”

  “I’d hate to think our time together is over so soon today,” Brandon said as he leaned back against another car.

  “I’ve enjoyed talking with you and I want to know more about the petroglyphs. Can you tell me about them?”

  * * * * *

  Brandon adjusted his hat as he took a better look at Kate. Her petite frame and long legs had drawn his immediate attention back in the store. The emerald green of her eyes, set in the face of an angel, complemented her long dark hair. He liked her curiosity of their town. Though she was a total stranger, she seemed so familiar to him.

  Then he recalled what his grandfather had told him long ago when he’d been given a gold ring with emerald stones. It was tethered on a piece of leather he now wore around his neck tucked under his shirt. His tribal legend had it that each son would pass this ring on to his son and one day a woman would claim the ring as her own. Brandon noticed that Kate happened to wear a similar ring. The stones matched her eyes, he thought. “I hope you don’t mind me being so forward. Normally, I’m not. I’d like to offer you and your traveling companion a tour of the area.”

  Kate tipped her head in confusion. “Offer us a tour? I’m not traveling with anyone
.”

  Brandon squinted his eyes in the sun as if he were taken by surprise. “You can’t possibly be here alone...are you?”

  Kate didn’t answer right away but turned toward her Trailblazer to unlock the door. “Yes, I came out west alone on vacation.” Opening the door, she tossed her purse across the seat then smiled at him openly. “Does being alone disqualify me from a tour?”

  Her eyes twinkled when she smiled. He laughed but also wondered who would let this beautiful woman travel across the United States alone? Did she not have a boyfriend or husband back home? He replied with a smile of his own, one that he hoped would put her at ease. “Certainly not. Where would you like to start?”

  “At Whiskey Basin and learn whatever you can tell me about them. I’ll drive, if it’s all right.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Brandon agreed, realizing she would be in control of her situation then. Spending the afternoon with her would be fun and he could get to know her better. Getting into the car, Kate unlocked the doors and moved her purse. Brandon got in, tossed his duster in the backseat, and stretched his long legs in front of him. He noticed that Kate watched him and he smiled to himself. Her light perfume filled the car, throwing off his train of thought. Laughing to himself at how easily he was affected, Brandon buckled his seatbelt, as did Kate.

  “Can I buy you a coffee before we head out of town? The drive-through coffee shop near the Branding Iron Inn is run by a friend of mine.” A large chocolate-almond latte sounded great to Brandon. Kate pulled into The Pony Espresso, run by Prudy, a good friend of his parents.

  “Hi Brandon. Nice to see you again. Where you headed?”

  “Out to Whiskey Basin to check out the petroglyphs,” he said. “Kate is here on vacation and interested in them.”