Page 19 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

CHAPTER SIX

They rode for another hour or so, and Nicole was beginning to feel the tiredness really begin to take over. She wondered how long she could keep awake.

Then the horse crested a dune and she saw the palace.

Nicole gasped and Rashid drew the horse to a halt.

"It's beautiful," she exclaimed sitting up straight and peering over Rashid's shoulder.

He nodded. "I would have to agree," he replied with obvious pride in his voice.

Nicole gazed down into the valley at the place Rashid called home. And what a home it was!

The white palace was situated on a flat, rock strewn plain. It was built on two levels and on each corner of the main building there was a tall, slender tower. A walled garden spread out in front of the palace. From here, it looked as if the gardens encircled the palace.

The silvery line of a narrow river ran through the valley. The river looked like it came from the high range of mountains Nicole could vaguely see silhouetted against the dark sky in the distance.

There were lights on in the palace. The illuminations lit up the exterior of the palace and parts of the expanse of garden which ringed the main building. She wondered who was at home. As if reading her thoughts, Rashid explained: "The staff have instructions to keep the palace lit until I return."

"The staff?" she repeated and lifting a brow.

"I have a small number of people who come from the local village off in that direction," he said pointing in the direction of the mountains.

"How many exactly is small?" she asked.

"Six."

Nicole nodded. "Okay. Anyone else?"

Did he understand what she'd really meant by that question? Any wife? Any brothers or sisters?

Rashid shook his head abruptly. "No-one else. Just me and my staff."

Nicole saw the flat expression in his eyes. He didn't want to say anything more. She wanted to pursue that line of questions a bit further, but restrained the impulse to get more out of him.

Nicole could sense the barriers he'd put up since they'd left Hakim's camp. There would be time later to try and push those barriers aside and find out more about the man who'd saved her.

He moved the horse down into the valley and across the flat plain. They came to a high, white marble entranceway. The metal gates were open. Past the gates she could see a narrow road leading up through an avenue of trees. The road ended in a circular courtyard in front of the palace.

As they rode up toward the palace, the horse's hooves clacked loudly on the hard driveway. Nicole gazed through the trees at the gardens beyond. She felt a sudden shock when she realized that the gardens were in a state of disrepair.

From their previous vantage point on the crest of the dune, the garden had seemed idyllic and well-tended. But, now that she could see it up close, thanks to the lights from the palace, it looked like no-one had taken care of the garden in a very long time. The grass was overgrown; hedgerows had become chaotic and messy; flowerbeds were dead and barren.

Nicole wondered why no-one had tended to the garden. She was about to ask Rashid, when he pointed toward the steps which led up to the massive front doors.

There were two people standing on the steps. A man and a young woman, both dressed in traditional white robes.

"They've been waiting," he said with audible satisfaction in his voice.

"How did they know you'd be back so soon?"

"They didn't. But they know I'm never away from the palace for longer than a few hours," he explained.

Nicole looked at him. "You never leave the palace?" she asked.

"Except for something important," he replied. He smiled at her. "I suppose this qualifies as something important. Wouldn't you agree?"

Nicole smiled weakly. "I suppose so," she agreed.

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