Page 22 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

CHAPTER SEVEN

Rashid stood on the balcony of his bedroom and gazed out across the moonlit desert. There was still no sign of Hakim. Rashid sighed and leaned against the balustrade. Hakim would come. Rashid was certain of that. Hakim would not wish to be seen as weak. Rashid taking Nicole away would place Hakim in an awkward position. It would require him to demonstrate his strength.

So, Rashid knew that before the night was out, Hakim would be at the gates of Rashid's palace.

Rashid knew what would come of such a meeting. The two men would do what this situation called for. They would agree that Nicole would stay with Rashid for the prescribed period of time. The time of trial which had been established for situations like this.

Rashid breathed out heavily. He wondered how Nicole would take that news. The realization that she would have to stay with Rashid for seven days and nights.

Probably not well at all, he reflected. The spirited American woman had already endured the consequences of the strange tribal traditions in this part of Qazhar. Hadn't she known before she came out here that this area of the kingdom was almost like a world unto itself? Surely someone back in the city would have warned Nicole about coming out to these border regions.

Life was different out here. The rules for living were utterly alien compared to the so-called civilized life to be found in Qazhar city. The life Rashid had resolutely turned his back on these past few years.

There were times when Rashid understood why he had made the decision to remain out here. He'd had many opportunities over the years to become involved in life down in the city. But each time he had resisted, preferring what he had out here. With all its faults, all its primitive ways, Rashid felt at home in this place.

Rashid gazed out across the desert, scanning what he could see of the dim horizon. It was after midnight now. He'd spoken to Raina and been informed that Nicole had changed clothes, exchanging her sand-covered clothing for a brand new traditional Qazhar robe. Nicole had showered.

The thought of Nicole in the shower, here in his palace, made something shift inside Rashid. An image eased into his mind. Nicole as she would have looked while tending to herself in the shower. The thought triggered a heat in him, one he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Rashid drew in a deep breath and dragged his mind back to the present moment. It would do no good to submit to those tempting thoughts. They'd been taunting him ever since Nicole had held onto Rashid during their frantic horseback ride across the desert.

Rashid had deliberately stayed away from Nicole since they'd arrived. He didn't want her to feel as if he was crowding her. She'd already been subjected to enough male pressure for one night.

Raina had told Rashid that eventually Nicole had agreed to eat something. A plain meal of fish and vegetables had been brought to Nicole. Apparently, in spite of what she'd said to Rashid, Nicole had been hungry enough to devour the plain food.

Rashid felt calmness settle upon him as he reflected upon Nicole's arrival in his home. He'd done the right thing. Rashid knew that Nicole would have suffered at Hakim's hands, if the wedding had gone ahead. At least Rashid had spared Nicole that fate.

Wasn't that enough to satisfy Rashid? He'd saved her from a terrible fate. Surely he should be more than satisfied with that.

But he wasn't. Why had there been some lingering sensation of dissatisfaction tugging at Rashid for the last few hours? This wasn't the same as his previous encounters with the local tribes in these parts. He knew the various tribal leaders didn't approve of Rashid's efforts to encourage change. He knew he had enemies, but he didn't care.

Ever since the darkness had descended upon his life, he'd known he had to try and drag this part of Qazhar into the modern world. It was fine to maintain some of their traditions, but there were others which he felt it was time to abandon.

Chief amongst those was the practice of enforced marriages. How had Nicole allowed herself to be caught up in such a thing? He thought about what her life would have been like if the marriage had gone ahead. He shook his head, thinking about the restrained life she would have lived. The freedom she valued back in her life in the city would have vanished, to be replaced by duty and obligation, enforced by a subtle and effective cruelty.

No.

It was time to abandon such things, Rashid told himself. He knew that he was winning the argument with some of the local sheikhs. Abductions and forced marriages were gradually becoming less acceptable. But there was still work to be done.

Rashid's attention was caught by a flash of light. He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, straining to see better.

He saw the flash of light again. A reflection. Some metal, perhaps. And then he saw a lone horseman riding toward the palace. Indignation flared inside Rashid. It could only be one person.

Hakim had come at last.

Rashid raced downstairs and out the front door. He strode up the narrow driveway and halted at the gate which had been closed after he and Nicole had arrived.

Through the high metal bars he saw the figure of Hakim seated upon his horse. Hakim's gaze was dark with barely contained fury. He stared at Rashid. "You know why I have come, Rashid," Hakim announced.

"I see you decided to come alone, Hakim."

"I don't need anyone to witness this," Hakim barked. "The elder made his decision. That's enough to establish my rights."

Rashid wrapped his fingers around the metal bars of the gate. He wasn't about to open the gates. Hakim couldn't be trusted to act honorably. Not after what he'd done.

Rashid saw Hakim leap down off his horse and stride toward the gate. Rashid didn't move, merely watched Hakim advance toward him. Hakim halted, seeing that Rashid wasn't about to be intimidated into moving away from the gate.

"Your rights to claim Nicole as a wife have been challenged by my taking her away," Rashid stated evenly.

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