Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
After a few tense nights of travel in which Michel hardly slept in his vigilance to keep watch, they finally arrived in Kashgar late in the afternoon, relieved to have made it with no trouble.
Kashgar was an ancient city, marked by the architecture of the cultures that had inhabited it at different times.
The Chinese, the Turks, and the Mongols all left their stamp, creating a diverse landscape of buildings in a city built around protecting itself from outsiders.
Michel’s contact here, Renault, was a man who had fought with his father in France many years ago. He had since married, had a family, and built a profitable business here in Kashgar. Renault would also be hosting the meeting with the cashmere dealer. Just as they settled the camp, Renault arrived.
“Good friend,” Michel called out from the entrance to his yurt. “You find us worse for wear.”
Renault approached. He was a lean man with a regal look, chestnut hair, and a full, neat mustache. “It is good to see you, Michel.” He shook Michel’s hand. “You are safe in our walls.”
“I have never been happier to arrive here unharmed,” Michel said with a laugh. Eve approached. Michel put his hand on the small of her back. “This is Eve. She is traveling with me back to Chevalerie.”
Renault nodded and took her hand in his. “My lady, I see that Michel has found himself a lovely companion for this trip.”
“I certainly have made it more interesting for him,” she said, smiling.
Just then, a cat yowled and ran through their feet. Seconds later, Terence came tearing through. He knocked into Michel, causing Michel to step back. Michel swiped out to grab him, but the boy was too fast.
“Terence!” Eve shouted. “Leave the cat be!” She turned to the men. “Excuse me,” she said, going after him.
“You have your hands full,” Renault chuckled.
“You have no idea.” Michel grinned, dusting himself off.
“I have spoken with Malik, the cashmere dealer,” Renault said, lowering his voice. “He is looking forward to meeting you. I am just waiting to hear when he will arrive.”
“He is amenable to the deal?” Michel asked, pulling the rug flat at the entrance to the yurt.
“You know I sponsor anything you and your father wish.” He gave Michel a nod of approval. “Malik is very guarded, but I believe with the support of Johann and myself, he will be agreeable, yes.”
Michel felt tension dissipate across his shoulders, a storm of relief washing off him. “I truly hope so,” he said. “I have always loved the adventure of these travels, but to be honest, old friend, I am more than eager to return home.”
“The cashmere market is a viable investment and will benefit us all. Greatly.” He glanced toward Eve. “I see you have taken on this very beautiful ward. May I speak frankly?”
Michel felt a prickling sensation of anger. Still, he nodded for Renault to continue.
“I would hate to see something happen to you, Michel. Perhaps you’ve taken on some unnecessary complications?
” He raised his eyebrows as his eyes followed Eve while she chased Terence around the camp.
“I wouldn’t want any extra considerations to disrupt this deal.
” He folded his arms. “We stand to lose too much.”
Michel took a breath and chose his words carefully. “Renault, let me worry about her. Them both.” He ground his jaw to keep from telling Renault to mind his damn business. “You just get the dealer here, and I will do the rest.”
“Fair enough,” Renault conceded. “Should we go in? We can talk specifics.”
Michel nodded, though now he was irritated.
“Yes.” He held the flap open. Renault entered.
Michel looked back at Eve, seeing her hair catching the last light of the day.
She had wrangled Terence, and they were sitting at the fire now, preparing dinner.
Michel could no longer imagine this journey without her, couldn’t leave her.
He was…mon dieu, what was he? He shook his head clear before entering the yurt.
All he knew was that he wouldn’t be able to let her go.
Eve placed the heavy pan in the fire. Then she placed an onion on a plank and put it in Terence’s lap. She handed him her knife. “Do you know how to cut that?” she asked.
“I think so,” he said. “I used to help my mom cut the vegetables.”
Eve smiled. “Let me know if you need help.” She tossed a piece of suet into the pan and used a wooden spoon to move it around. After a moment, she spoke. “Do you miss your family?” she asked. “You are quite young to be traveling so far from home.”
“I miss my mom,” he said. “She died a few years ago. From a fever.” He shrugged, his little chops striking a rhythm against the plank of wood.
“I’m very sorry to hear that.” She glanced over, feeling sorrow for him.
“I don’t miss my dad.”
“No?”
“He yells at me. A lot. He used to be a merchant here, and he’d take me with him. He fell off his horse when he was drinking once and hurt his leg. Then my mom died, so he stayed home in France with my two little brothers and sent me back here to make us money.”
“Ah,” said Eve. “You are working for your family. There is honor in that.”
“I don’t know,” Terence said, pushing his hair out of his face with the back of his hand.
“He wants to buy our own piece of land so we don’t have to be tenants.
But he wastes most of the money. He gambles.
” He was silent for a moment, then continued.
“I do it for my mom. And my brothers.” He looked down, feathers ruffled.
“I don’t want to return home until I have enough to help them. ”
“I understand that,” she said. “I, too, am on this journey for the people I love.”
He looked up at her. “Really?” he cocked his head. “I thought because you were going to marry Michel or something.”
She laughed softly. “No. That was not my plan.”
“You needed money?” Terence asked.
She shook her head. “No, not money. I was like you, though. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to.”
Terence finished the onions. He handed the board to her. Eve took it and swiped the pieces into the pan. They popped and sizzled with the suet.
“I just want to get back to France.” He sagged with the words. “I’ll find work there.”
“Let’s hope for easy going. Once Michel finishes this deal, he will be ready to return. We are lucky that we have attached ourselves to a man who is able to get us there.”
Terence looked at her with big eyes. Then he dropped his head in a soundless sob.
“I don’t want to die, Eve,” he said, putting his head down.
“You won’t,” she said. Eve reached forward and put her arm around him. She pulled him into a hug.
“I might die,” he said. Then he glanced up at her. “You, too.”
She rubbed circles into his back. “Terence, you can’t think like that. Michel has promised you his protection. You will have it, just like me. You’ll see your family again. And they will be so happy to see you.”
Terence sniffled and took a breath. “I hope so,” he said. He pulled back.
“To fight these feelings, you must be grateful for what you have. Focus on those you love. All your actions must be to protect those you care about. That is your duty.”
He sniffed and nodded. She looked at him curiously, wondering about this boy, turning his phrases and tone in her head.
Then she heard the noises of Michel and Renault exiting the yurt.
They spoke a few more words and said their goodbyes.
Eve caught Michel’s eye, and he gave her a nod, which she knew to mean everything was going well.
She felt light. Despite the despondent boy next to her, she hoped Michel’s dealings and this journey would end soon, and then they could leave this place.
She would be happy to be moving further away from the source of trouble rather than further into its nest.
A few hours later, Michel lay on his back on a mat just at the edge of their camp. He watched the stars with his belly full of another delicious meal from Eve. He felt content.
He caught her scent before he saw her, and warmth went through him.
She sat next to him. “Are you relaxing?” she asked, teasing.
Michel laughed. “Sometimes I do it,” he said. “Watch the stars with me. It’s peaceful.”
“Do you feel better now?” She reclined beside him, her head near his.
“We’ll be headed to France soon.” He paused. “What do you hope to happen when you are there?”
“I thought to try to find work,” she said. “Things have changed.”
“What has changed?” he asked, feeling his heart beat in his chest, in his ears.
She didn’t respond right away, but he felt her body shift. “Have you had many women, Michel?”
“Had?” he asked, amused. “You mean…”
“You know what I mean,” she tutted. “Don’t make me say it.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” He grinned. “I’d really like to hear you say it.”
She let out a sound of exasperation. Then she turned on her side to face him. He did the same.
“You are very handsome,” she said. “I thought so the first second I saw you.”
“I thought you disliked me,” he teased, savoring the closeness.
“I did, but I also thought you were handsome.” She blinked as she searched his face. “I felt things in my body that I had never felt before I saw you. I imagine other women would too.” She reached out to brush a finger on his lips. “How many women have you been with?”
“Why do you want to know that?” He had been no angel in the past, but he hadn’t caused any scandals. He leaned a little closer.
“In my tribe, it is rare to be with anyone before you are married.” She looked up at him. “The men, too.”
“Would that bother you?” He hovered closer to her. “If I had been with someone already?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “How many?”
He gave her a half smile as he looked from her eyes to her lips and back to her eyes. “More than a few.”
She moved closer, her knees touching his. “Did you love any of them?”
“No. Not one,” he murmured. He didn’t really know what she wanted from this conversation, but he was happy to keep it going. “What do you think about that?”
“I don’t know,” she said. She put her hand to his chest, working her fingers into the opening of his shirt. “Thinking of you with another woman…it makes me jealous. In a way, it makes me want you even more.”
Michel let out a groan. “Eve,” he said. They faced each other, the air warm between them. “I’ve never wanted to be with anyone the way I want to be with you.” He knew she could take his meaning in a few different ways, but he was searching her, testing.
She blinked at him. “I’ve never wanted anyone else to have me.”
He found himself pushing her back so he could hover above her.
He didn’t know if she meant for him to have her love or her body or both like he wanted, but at this point, he would take anything she offered.
He searched her face, her mottled eyes. “Give me a little more time. A few more days. Once I finish this deal, get us further away, make sure we are safe, then I promise…” He pressed his forehead to hers.
“I promise, I will devote myself to you.”
“Yes, Michel,” she whispered. “That is what I want.”
He fought his body, which wanted to sink down and kiss her.
He would have her here in the open, he didn’t care, but it wouldn't be fair to her, for anything to be rushed.
He pulled back, still looking at her. He held out his hand and helped her sit up.
They watched each other until Eve broke the silence.
“I’m going to go to sleep now, Michel.” She rolled her lips and wet them. “I just want you to know…I’ll be dreaming you are there beside me.”
Michel smiled. “If I can sleep through Terence’s snoring, I will be dreaming of you, too.”
Eve laughed and gave him a sudden kiss before pulling away. Michel watched her enter the yurt. He couldn’t believe everything had worked out. Just a few more days. That’s all he needed.