Captive Bride

Chapter Seventeen

THE pain in his eyes brought Philip awake. When he opened them, he stared directly into the late morning sun and was blinded for a minute. He wondered for a moment why he had slept outside, until he tried to rise and felt the pain in his shoulders.

So—the sun was already doing its work, he thought when he looked down at his burned chest and arms. At least Hejaz had been wrong about one thing—he had not been awake to see the sun rise. Philip lay perfectly still.

The sun was directly above him now. Philip's tongue felt foreign in his mouth, like a piece of dry cloth. The sweat baked from his body hurt him as it rolled over burned skin. How long could he last? He forced himself to think of pleasant things and lost himself in thoughts of Christina.

Philip heard a voice calling Mm from a distance, pulling him out of his unconsciousness as it became louder. He opened his eyes with an effort to see Ali Hejaz standing beside him. He tried to speak, but his mouth was too dry and his lips were cracked and blistered.

"So—you are still alive. You must have a strong desire to live." Ali turned to the guard standing beside him. "Give him a few drops of water, but no more."

The guard dribbled a few drops of water into Philip's mouth, and Ali said, "Tomorrow morning should finish you off. If you still live, I will have one of my men kill you, because we must break camp tomorrow and move on. The water here is running low. I would take you with me and stake you out again, but your tribesmen will come searching for you soon. You will die tomorrow, one way or the other. Pleasant dreams, Abu."

The sun went down, but Philip was still on fire. The water he had been given had only teased his senses. He thought of Christina lying only a few feet away from him in Hejaz's tent At least she was sleeping through this nightmare. But she might enjoy seeing him roasted alive. After all, she hated him. Well, soon she would be back with her brother, as she'd always wanted.

The moon was high when Philip sensed a presence beside Mm. "The camp is finally asleep, but we must be quiet to give no alarm," the man whispered as he bent down beside Philip. "I am Amair Abdalla, brother to Amine who lives in your camp. I beg you to forgive my father and me for our part in this. My father is an old man and only wished to see an end to our sheik's hatred and to see his daughter once again. He realizes now it was wrong to capture your woman. She did not deserve to suffer, nor did you. I will rub a salve onto your skin now. You must not cry out."

Philip's body jerked when the cooling grease touched his skin. He fought back screams as the man worked the salve into his chest and face.

"I would have set you free last night, only you were too heavily drugged. The salve will draw some of the pain after a while," Amair said. He wiped the grease from his hands.

He cut the ropes, pulled Philip to his feet, and handed him a canteen of water. Philip drank sparingly.

"I have your horse waiting in the shadows," said Amair. "The woman is still drugged and will not be able to ride by herself. I will get her presently. Can you talk?"

Philip drank more of the water and was able to whisper hoarsely, "What will happen—"

"My father will meet with the elders in the morning, before Sheik Ali awakes. They will stop Ali from seeking you again, and they will protect me from him. I pray you understand that I was ordered to take the woman. I did not like doing so, but I had no choice. Can you forgive me?"

"You are welcome in my camp," Philip returned.

"I will get your woman now. You have five hours before the sun rises. You should be able to wear your robe by then."

Amair went to the side of the tent and slit it with his knife. He crawled inside and a moment later emerged with Christina in his arms. He put her down beside Philip and went to get the horse.

Amair helped Philip onto Victory, then set Christina in front of him. "Will you be able to ride?"

"I'll have to," Philip said.

Amair walked the horse silently out of the sleeping camp. "I wish you a long and fruitful life, Sheik Abu. Allah be with you."

"Farewell, my friend. I owe you my life," Philip whispered. He urged Victory into a canter and headed toward home.

Philip felt excruciating pain with every movement of the horse, but the salve begain to help after a while. Oddly enough, he could not hate Ali Hejaz. He pitied the man for living with his own hatred for so many years.

Philip thanked God he was still alive. He would heal soon, and he had Christina back. Yes, he had everything to be thankful for.

If only Christina would grow to love him, he would be the happiest man alive. But he couldn't push her. If he declared his love now, she would only laugh. No, he must win her love slowly. He would be patient now that she was with him again.

Christina's mind slowly cleared, and she realized that she was on a moving horse.

It was daylight She could see the horse's neck and the desert before her. She remembered a desert camp, a meal, and drinking some wine, but nothing more. How did she get on this horse? Where was she being taken now?

She had to escape. She had to get back to Philip. Chris* tina threw her leg over the horse's neck and fell forward onto the sand. The man groaned when she pushed against him, but she didn't care. She scrambled to her feet and started to run.

"Christina!"

Christina stopped. She couldn't believe it. Philip had come for her and was taking her home. She screamed his name and swung around.

"Oh, my Godl" She gasped when she saw his blistered face.

"That's exactly what I said when I first saw you, but I don't want to explain now. Please get back on the horse, Tina, I'm anxious to get home."

"But Philip, your face is—"

"I can imagine what I must look like," Philip interrupted her. "But have you seen your own face yet? Neither of us is quite—ah—recognizable, but we will heal. Come on, Tina."

Christina managed to mount in front of Philip without any help. She was confused and worried about his condition. How had he been burned so badly? At least they were together, and she thanked God for it

An hour later, they rode into camp and were greeted by an assortment of surprised and shocked faces. Christina and Philip were helped down from the horse. Amine rushed forward crying and embraced Christina tenderly.

"I thought you were dead—we all did. And when Sheik Abu did not return, we thought that he had been killed trying to save you. But your face—oh, Christina, does it hurt? How did this happen?" Amine asked. She clasped Christina's hands tightly. "And Sheik Abu—he is burned so badly."

"I was beaten by an Arab from some desert tribe, and then I was taken to their camp. But I don't know why. That is all I can remember. I don't even know how Philip rescued me, or how he got so burned." She turned to see Syed helping Philip into their tent. She looked back at her friend. "Amine, I am so sorry about Ahmad."

"Ahmad will be all right, but I must help Maidi look after Sheik Abu."

"Ahmad is alive!" Christina exclaimed happily.

"Yes, he will be well in a few days. A rib stopped the bullet, and his wound is healing nicely. I must get Maidi now."

"Of course. We'll talk later," Christina said. She went into the tent.

Syed was taking Philip's robe off when she came into the bedroom. She stopped short when she saw his burns.

"Oh, Philip. Your chest, too?" she winced.

"I'm afraid so, Tina. But don't fret so. It's not as bad as it looks. A week or so, and the pain will be gone and the peeling will begin. I do not intend to remain two colors forever."

"Oh, Philip! How can you jest about it?" She came forward and viewed his chest and arms closely. She frowned at the sight of the horrible, dark-red skin. "Does it hurt badly? How did this happen?" she demanded.

"Settle down, my sweet. This is nothing for you to get angry about I am the injured party." Philip moaned as he lay down on the bed very slowly.

"But how could this happen, Philip?" Christina asked again, completely perplexed.

"It's a long story, Tina, and my throat is still too parched to tell you now. I am tired, sore, and hungry as a wolf. Why don't you see about getting us some food?"

"Oh, damn you!" she stormed, and stalked from the tent

Amine was by the fire, filling two bowls with a delicious-smelling stew. Christina was furious as she walked over to her.

"He's impossible! He won't answer any of my questions. He just asks for food!" Christina raged.

"Sheik Abu must surely be in great pain, Christina. He does not want you to know how badly he hurts."

"You're right He is suffering, and I am thinking only of myself. It kas taken this nightmare to make me realize how much I love him."

"It is obvious he cares for you," Amine said. "Have patience, Christina. He will tell you what happened when he has rested. Now you both need food, so come."

"You're right. I feel as if I haven't eaten for days."

"You have been gone three days and nights."

"Three daysl But how can that be?" said Christina. "How could I be missing for so long?"

"Sheik Abu will be able to explain. We are all anxious to learn what has happened. But come now, you must eat."

Christina couldn't argue, and followed Amine back into the tent Amine took Philip's food into the bedroom where Maidi was still ministering to him, and then left

I feel so ashamed, Christina thought as she wolfed down the stew. Philip must be in extreme pain, and I have to go and jump on him, demanding answers when he is in no condition to give them. I have to forget about it and just think about making him well again. He will tell me everything when he is ready—or will he? He doesn't like to answer questions. Well, he will have to answer these questions. They concern me, tool

Christina had forgotten all about her own injuries. Her eyes and cheeks were still swollen and sore, but it didn't bother her to eat or talk.

Her robe was a mess—completely covered with dirt. She felt so sticky, but how could she bathe when Philip was bedridden? It was too dangerous to go alone. When she finished eating, Syed came into the tent carrying a bucket of water in each hand.

"Sheik Abu ordered the water for you. He said you would have to wash this way for a while," Syed said quickly as he put the buckets down.

He was obviously embarrassed, and Christina wanted to laugh, but didn't "Thank you, Syed. You are very kind."

Maidi came out of the bedroom, and finally Christina was left alone in the tent with Philip. She decided to wash in the bedroom. Someone might walk into the tent and find her without any clothes on, but she also wanted to be near Philip. She went to the cabinet for towels and soap, then carried the buckets into the other room.

"Philip, are you asleep?" she asked.

"No."

"I wanted to bathe in here where it's more private, but if it will disturb you, I can leave."

"Of course not It was my intention that you should wash in here. In fact I have been looking forward to it."

"Oh, you!" she retorted angrily. But when she saw the grease caked so thickly all over the upper half of his body, she started laughing.

"What the devil is so amusing?" he demanded.

"I'm sorry," she giggled. "But you look so ridiculous. Have you seen what you look like yet?"

"No I haven't—have you?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"I suggest you view your own face before you laugh at mine."

Christina picked up her looking glass and gasped at her own reflection. "Oh, God—that's not me! I look so horrible! Td love to horsewhip the bastard who hit me!"

"Damn, Tina. Must you swear so much? I hardly think it's ladylike."

"Ladylike! Look at my face, Philip. Is this swollen and bruised face the face of a lady? Ladies are not supposed to be beaten, but I was."

"Now that I think of it, besides not speaking like a lady, you hardly look like one in that robe and breeches," Philip chuckled.

"You go too far now, Philip. Before insulting my appearance, why don't you view your own?" she replied haughtily, tossing him her looking glass. "Now tell me which of us looks the worst"

"Touche", my sweet. I give you this round gladly. Why don't you wash up so we can stop this ridiculous banter and get some rest?"

"Whatever you say, master. But as long as I no longer look like a lady, I see no reason why I should act like one." She untied her robe and let it drop to the floor. Slowly the rest of her clothes followed.

"Now what the hell was that remark supposed to mean?" Philip asked.

"Oh—nothing," she teased, then she began to scrub her body from head to foot. She knew that Philip was watching her. And, surprisingly, it didn't bother her in the least She had been shy about undressing in front of Philip before, but now she enjoyed what the sight of her body could do to him.

"Christina, perhaps you'd better wash in the other room."

He sounded annoyed, and she could guess the reason. "But why, Philip?" she returned innocently. "I'm almost finished, and you can always close your eyes if you can't stand to look at me."

She heard him groan, and suddenly she was angry with herself for teasing him. A month, even a week ago, she would have enjoyed having Philip at her mercy. But now she just wanted him to get well. She wanted to feel his arms around her again.

After drying herself, Christina let her hair down and gave it a few quick strokes before coming to the bed.

"Christina, wait. I think it might be best if I slept on the couch for a few days—until this blasted pain goes away."

She looked hurt for a moment, but then her expression changed to one of determination.

"You will do no such thing. If anyone is going to sleep on the couch, it will be me. There's no point in your moving after you're already comfortable." She went to his chest and took out one of his robes to sleep in.

"Christina, I will not have you sleeping out there alone!"

"You're in no condition to argue with me." She slipped the robe on and tied it about her waist, then began rolling up the long sleeves. "Now relax and get a good night's rest. I'll see you in the morning."

"Will you?"

She turned and looked at him tenderly. "Is that what's bothering you—that I will run away during the night? Shame on you, Philip. It would hardly be fair of me if I escaped now, while you're incapacitated. Besides, I don't trust your damn desert. I give you my word that I'll be here in the morning."

"Is your word any good?"

"Oh, you're impossible! You'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find the answer to that. Now, good night."

With that, she left the bedroom and curled up on the lonely couch. Well, at least it was comfortable. Damn, she didn't want to sleep here, she wanted to sleep in the bed with Philip. But he was right, of course. She might hurt him during the night, and she didn't want that. She wanted him to get well as soon as possible.

Everything was changed now that she knew she loved Philip. She could no longer fight him or deny him anything. But how could she explain her change of attitude without telling him of her love? Perhaps he would believe her grateful for her rescue. Yes, he might believe that Then again, he might not even wonder.

But after she gave in, what if he tired of her because he'd won the game? No—Philip wasn't like that. He must care something for her or he wouldn't have come to rescue her. Christina couldn't stand it if he sent her away now. She didn't even care that they weren't married. She only wanted to stay with Philip.

Perhaps they would have children. That would bind them together. A child—a son! That would solve everything, for Philip couldn't send away the mother of his son. Life would be so wonderful