Page 7 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

Hakim grunted. "You have no right. The law is clear."

Rashid shook his head. "On the contrary. I can challenge this. This cannot go ahead." Rashid peered down at Nicole. She searched his expression seeking any hint of compassion for her predicament. But, right now, she saw none. She felt disappointment well up inside her.

"You cannot stop this, Rashid," Hakim reiterated.

"I can. And I will." Rashid paused and looked down at Nicole. "I demand arbitration," he announced.

Rashid's voice hung in the wind for a long moment. Nicole had the sense that what he had just said has some kind of special significance.

"You cannot do such a thing," Hakim retorted.

Rashid shook his head. "On the contrary. Since we both share a common border, and I am Sheikh of my own territory, it is my right to demand arbitration over any decision which can affect our common livelihoods. Therefore the tribal elder must be involved in any decision to take a wife in these circumstances."

Had he emphasized the word "take"?

Rashid looked down at Nicole and this time she saw more than a hint of compassion behind those dark eyes.

And then he said something which drew the breath out of Nicole.

"Especially with one so beautiful as this," he said softly. Nicole felt a flush of color rise to her cheeks.

She wondered if he had noticed that, but right now it didn't matter. All that really mattered was that the stranger who had come from the desert was willing to be her saviour.

Nicole looked across at Hakim. He had no answer to what Rashid had just said. She could tell from the hard look in his eyes that Rashid had made a demand that he could not refuse.

Nicole glanced up at Rashid.

This man could well be the only way that she could escape the hideous fate of a forced marriage.

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